Oshiomhole Remains Tight-Lipped on Edo Governorship Tribunal Hearings

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, opted not to provide commentary on the ongoing hearings related to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) petition at the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which is currently convening in Abuja. When approached by journalists on Friday, Oshiomhole maintained a respectful distance from the proceedings, emphasizing that commenting on court matters is inappropriate.

“I came to watch, to observe the proceedings and I am satisfied that the proceedings are going well. It is not for me to do any evaluation; that is the prerogative and absolute responsibility of the tribunal. Well, I cannot comment on it,” he stated succinctly.

The tribunal continued its examination of the petition filed by the PDP and its gubernatorial candidate, Asue Ighodalo. The session featured the presentation of the petitioners’ 16th witness, Haruna Ibrahim, who testified regarding his role as a polling unit agent during the contentious September 21, 2024 election in Edo State.

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Ibrahim reported that while the election was conducted properly, he noted instances of over-voting and promptly raised complaints with officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at his polling station.

Ibrahim’s testimony came shortly after Oshiomhole’s arrival, as he expressed solidarity with Governor Monday Okpebholo, the candidate from the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was declared victorious by INEC, securing 291,667 votes against Ighodalo’s 247,655.

Notably present at the tribunal was the former Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, who recently shifted his allegiance from the PDP to the APC, demonstrating the ongoing political maneuvering within the state.

In a significant development on Thursday, the tribunal admitted as evidence 148 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines that were utilized during the disputed election. These devices were presented by Anthony Itodo, a Senior Technical Officer in INEC’s ICT Department, and were accepted by the three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi.

The PDP and its candidate have sought the tribunal’s intervention, urging it to invalidate INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as the election winner, citing alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022 as part of their justification for contesting the election results. The hearings are poised to continue as the matter unfolds in the judicial arena.