Edo Tribunal: Okpebholo Drops Five Witnesses, Ends Defence With One Testimony

Edo Tribunal: Okpebholo Drops Five Witnesses, Ends Defence With One Testimony

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Monday, presented just one witness in defense of his victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).……READ MORE 

Initially, Okpebholo had informed the three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, of his intention to call six witnesses. However, he abruptly ended his defense after his sole witness, Usman Mark, was discharged.

Mark, a farmer and All Progressives Congress (APC) agent during the election, maintained that the APC secured a fair victory. But during cross-examination, he conceded that the number of votes recorded in Ovia South West Local Government Area—stronghold of Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa—exceeded the count of accredited voters.

Following Mark’s testimony, Okpebholo’s lead counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), announced that no additional witnesses would be presented, thereby closing the governor’s defense.

After Okpebholo concluded his defense, the tribunal adjourned proceedings until Wednesday to allow the APC to present its defense.

Notably, INEC had already closed its defense the previous Thursday without calling any witnesses. The Commission had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, ahead of the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who secured 247,655 votes.

Challenging the results, Ighodalo and the PDP petitioned the tribunal to nullify INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as the winner. The petitioners argued that the election was marred by irregularities and that Okpebholo did not receive the majority of lawful votes.

To support their claims, the PDP presented 19 witnesses and submitted various documents as evidence. INEC, in its defense, provided 153 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines from the 133 disputed polling units, along with certified copies of the election results.