Election Controversy Deepens: APC Witnesses Admit Over-Voting In Edo Governorship Poll

Election Controversy Deepens: APC Witnesses Admit Over-Voting In Edo Governorship Poll

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun its defence in the ongoing legal challenge over the recent Edo State governorship election by presenting four witnesses before the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja..…..READ  MORE 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, filed a petition contesting the election results, alleging irregularities, including over-voting across multiple polling units.

The first witness, Afuda Theophilus Idemudia, a businessman from Benin City, testified that he monitored the election in Esan North East Local Government Area.

Led in evidence by APC’s counsel, Echezona Etiaba (SAN), Idemudia confirmed that PDP agents signed the election result from Esan North East. He identified Exhibit PCB-40, the Ballot Paper and Verification Statement, explaining that Part A was completed before voting began, while Part B was filled out after voting ended.

During cross-examination by PDP’s counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), Idemudia admitted that over-voting occurred in Unit 11, Ward 6, where 96 voters were accredited, yet 97 votes were recorded. He acknowledged that this led to the cancellation of the result in the affected unit.

Kamarudeen Coker Bello, an APC Local Government agent in Akoko Edo LGA, testified that the petitioners alleged over-voting in 17 polling units within the local government area.

Engr. Gabriel Iduseri, who served as APC’s Collation Agent for Oredo LGA, claimed there were no complaints from party agents about the election’s conduct. However, he admitted that results from Polling Unit 8, Ward 10, were canceled at the ward collation center due to over-voting.

When asked about the PDP’s petition listing 53 and 66 polling units with alleged discrepancies, Iduseri admitted he had read the petition but could not recall the exact number of disputed units.

Hon. Frank David, APC’s Collation Agent for Owan West LGA, stated that INEC officials carefully collated the results with no objections from party agents.

However, during cross-examination, he was presented with IReV reports that highlighted voter accreditation discrepancies:

• In Ward 4, Unit 19, only 36 voters were accredited, yet 37 votes were recorded.
• In Ward 8, Unit 8, 79 valid votes were recorded, alongside one rejected vote, despite only 80 accredited voters.

David also confirmed that results from Unit 5 were canceled due to over-voting.

Following the witness testimonies, APC’s lead counsel, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), informed the tribunal that the party was preparing additional documents to present as evidence when proceedings resume.