Observers who testified on Friday ahead of the Edo Circumstance Election Petition Tribunal alleged circumstances of over-voting of their polling devices because the respondents’ recommend, vehemently disagreed.
The petitioners, the Peoples Democratic Birthday celebration and its governorship candidate within the 2024 Edo Circumstance governorship election, Asuerime Ighodalo, are difficult the end result of the election.
In particular, the petitioners filed a case in opposition to the Isolated Nationwide Electoral Fee, Governor Monday Okpebholo, and the All Progressives Congress, indexed as the first, second, and third respondents, respectively, ahead of the tribunal.
The petitioners are urging the tribunal to nullify the election effects, alleging that the method used to be rigged.
Led in proof via the petitioners’ recommend, Rotimi Ogunesan (SAN), the 15th petitioner’s eyewitness (PW-15), Haruna Ibrahim, a 34-year-old businessman dwelling in Sabo Quarters, Auchi, followed his eyewitness commentary.
All through cross-examination via the INEC recommend, Kanu Agabi (SAN), Ibrahim admitted to signing the outcome sheet for his ward. Alternatively, he clarified that he did so handiest to acquire a album for his birthday party.
When Agabi advised that signing the outcome sheet indicated the election used to be credible, PW-15 disagreed.
Agabi later requested whether or not Ibrahim had lodged a proper protest relating to his grievances.
Ibrahim answered, pronouncing:
“I made a complaint to the unit officer. I protested, but not in writing. I did not file a written complaint.”
Underneath cross-examination via Okpebholo’s recommend, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), PW-15 reiterated his declare of over-voting in his polling unit.
Ikpeazu, on the other hand, countered via regarding the outcome sheet, which he mentioned confirmed deny over-voting. Exhibiting the report, he defined:
“Look at the ward result containing your polling unit. The reconciled result shows no over-voting.”
PW-15 insisted differently, mentioning: “In this paragraph, column 7, that is my unit column. We had over-voting in that unit. The total votes cast exceeded the recorded votes. I made an official protest, but my efforts for cancellation were declined.”
He additional alleged discrepancies between the figures recorded at the outcome sheet introduced on the tribunal and the ones from election life:
“This form is from my unit, but the figures do not correspond to the records from my unit.”
All through cross-examination via the APC recommend, Dan Orbih (SAN), PW-15 wondered the accuracy of the figures from his polling unit.
Orbih identified that the outcome sheet confirmed deny over-voting and instructed the eyewitness to recount the figures himself.
PW-15 answered: “I am questioning the figures. Why should I agree? The figures are incorrect. Let the INEC official come and verify. I identify the form, but the figures are not the same.”
The tribunal admitted the eyewitness’ agent card as proof upon the request of the petitioners’ recommend, in spite of objections from the respondents’ recommend.
The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel dominated pronouncing, “Court admits the agent’s card as evidence and reserves judgment on the objection to its admissibility.”
The 16th petitioner’s eyewitness (PW-16), Okuo Taiye Esther, a 27-year-old farmer from Igarra, Akoko-Edo LGA, additionally alleged over-voting in her polling unit.
All through cross-examination via INEC recommend, Agabi, he identified that the eyewitness’s identify and signature have been absent from the outcome sheet, suggesting she didn’t take part within the election.
PW-16 countered: “I was there. I didn’t sign the result because I did not agree with the figures recorded. There was over-voting.”
Ikpeazu on his phase all over cross-examination of the eyewitness, referred to the outcome sheet, which he argued mirrored correct figures from the election life. He famous that the overall legitimate votes have been 228, as recorded.
PW-16 maintained her stance: “I confirmed over-voting during the election in my unit. The figures have been changed. This was not what was recorded on the election day.”
She asserted that 229 votes have been solid, comprising 228 legitimate votes and one unwelcome vote. Alternatively, she mentioned the report ahead of her mirrored 227 legitimate votes and one unwelcome vote totalling 228 votes in her unit.
In a similar way, the petitioner eyewitness seventeen (PW-17), Abubakar Uzairu, a lecturer from Owan East native executive department, additionally alleged overvoting.
He additional claimed that no one received the election when the respondent’s recommend instructed him that APC received the 2024 polls within the condition.
The petitioner eyewitness eighteen (PW-18), Asuluka Righteousness, a motorcyclist from Enwan in Akoko-Edo LGA, underneath cross-examination additionally alleged overvoting.
Upon being requested to substantiate the paperwork (outcome sheet) ahead of him and the numbers, he answered that he used to be now not the maker of the paperwork introduced in courtroom.
Petitioner eyewitness nineteen (PW-19) Mutairu Yusuf a farmer from Agbede within the Etsako West native executive department in his testimony mentioned he used to be now not taking to arise via paragraph 4 of his eyewitness commentary on commitment despite the fact that he additionally alleged overvoting.