Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State presented and concluded his case at the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday, calling only one witness during the proceedings.
Leading counsel Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, represented Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and informed the three-member tribunal, presided over by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, that the day’s agenda was to open his client’s case. Ikpeazu requested permission to call his only witness.
The sole witness, Mr. Usman Majek, who served as a polling unit agent for the APC during the September 21, 2024, governorship election, provided his testimony. Under cross-examination, Majek acknowledged that there had been instances of over-voting in his polling unit and confirmed that accreditation and voting occurred simultaneously in that location.
Majek further stated that he had reported discrepancies regarding the election results to both the Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after signing the result sheet.
Following Majek’s testimony, Ikpeazu moved to close the defense for Okpebholo, a request that was granted with no objections from opposing counsel. The tribunal has adjourned the proceedings until February 12, when the APC is expected to present its case.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, have approached the tribunal, seeking to invalidate the election results. Their petition is based on alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022 and the assertion that Okpebholo did not receive the majority of votes cast in the election.
