Politics

Edo: Witnesses Allege Over-voting As APC, Okpebholo’s Counsel Disagree

Published

10 months ago

January 31, 2025

Witnesses who testified on Friday before the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal alleged instances of over-voting in their polling units as the respondents’ counsel, vehemently disagreed.

The petitioners, the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, Asuerime Ighodalo, are challenging the outcome of the election.

Specifically, the petitioners filed a case against the Independent National Electoral Commission, Governor Monday Okpebholo, and the All Progressives Congress, listed as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respondents, respectively, before the tribunal.

The petitioners are urging the tribunal to nullify the election results, alleging that the process was rigged.

Led in evidence by the petitioners’ counsel, Rotimi Ogunesan (SAN), the fifteenth petitioner’s witness (PW-15), Haruna Ibrahim, a 34-year-old businessman residing in Sabo Quarters, Auchi, adopted his witness statement.

During cross-examination by the INEC counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), Ibrahim admitted to signing the result sheet for his ward. However, he clarified that he did so only to obtain a copy for his party.

When Agabi suggested that signing the result sheet indicated the election was credible, PW-15 disagreed.

Agabi then asked whether Ibrahim had lodged a formal protest regarding his grievances.

Ibrahim responded, saying:
“I made a complaint to the unit officer. I protested, but not in writing. I did not file a written complaint.”

Under cross-examination by Okpebholo’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), PW-15 reiterated his claim of over-voting in his polling unit.

Ikpeazu, however, countered by referring to the result sheet, which he said showed no over-voting. Displaying the document, he explained:
“Look at the ward result containing your polling unit. The reconciled result shows no over-voting.”

PW-15 insisted otherwise, stating: “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 further alleged discrepancies between the figures recorded on the result sheet presented at the tribunal and those from election day:
“This form is from my unit, but the figures do not correspond to the records from my unit.”

During cross-examination by the APC counsel, Dan Orbih (SAN), PW-15 questioned the accuracy of the figures from his polling unit.

Orbih pointed out that the result sheet showed no over-voting and urged the witness to recount the figures himself.

PW-15 replied: “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 witness’ agent card as evidence upon the request of the petitioners’ counsel, despite objections from the respondents’ counsel.

The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel ruled saying, “Court admits the agent’s card as evidence and reserves judgment on the objection to its admissibility.”

The sixteenth petitioner’s witness (PW-16), Okuo Taiye Esther, a 27-year-old farmer from Igarra, Akoko-Edo LGA, also alleged over-voting in her polling unit.

During cross-examination by INEC counsel, Agabi, he pointed out that the witness’s name and signature were absent from the result sheet, suggesting she did not participate in 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 part during cross-examination of the witness, referred to the result sheet, which he argued reflected accurate figures from the election day. He noted that the total valid votes were 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 were cast, comprising 228 valid votes and one rejected vote. However, she said the document before her reflected 227 valid votes and one rejected vote totalling 228 votes in her unit.

Similarly, the petitioner witness seventeen (PW-17), Abubakar Uzairu, a teacher from Owan East local government area, also alleged overvoting.

He further claimed that nobody won the election when the respondent’s counsel told him that APC won the 2024 polls in the state.

The petitioner witness eighteen (PW-18), Asuluka Righteousness, a motorcyclist from Enwan in Akoko-Edo LGA, under cross-examination also alleged overvoting.

Upon being asked to confirm the documents (result sheet) before him and the numbers, he replied that he was not the maker of the documents presented in court.

Petitioner witness nineteen (PW-19) Mutairu Yusuf a farmer from Agbede in the Etsako West local government area in his testimony said he was not going to stand by paragraph 4 of his witness statement on oath although he also alleged overvoting.

PUNCH

Politics

BREAKING: Nigerian Senate Approves Tinubu’s N1.15tn Loan Request

Published

4 days ago

November 12, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Senate has approved the request of President Bola Tinubu to raise N1.15 trillion from the domestic debt market to cover the unfunded portion of the 2025 budget deficit.

This comes after the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt during plenary on Wednesday.

According to the committee, the 2025 Appropriation Act provides for a total expenditure of N59.99 trillion, representing an increase of N5.25 trillion over the N54.74 trillion initially proposed by the Executive.

The expansion created a total budget deficit of N14.10 trillion. Of this, N12.95 trillion had already been approved for borrowing, leaving an unfunded deficit of approximately N1.15 trillion (N1,147,462,863,321).

In a related development, a motion by Senator Abdul Ningi was adopted, directing the Senate Committee on Appropriations to intensify its oversight to ensure that the borrowed funds are properly implemented in the 2025 fiscal year and used strictly for their intended purposes.

Recall that President Tinubu had on November 4th requested the approval of the National Assembly for a fresh N1.15 trillion borrowing from the domestic debt market to help finance the deficit in the 2025 budget.

The President’s request was conveyed in a letter. According to the letter, the proposed borrowing is intended to bridge the funding gap and ensure full implementation of government programs and projects under the 2025 fiscal plan.

Politics

Agege LG Chairman Resigns

Published

2 weeks ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Agege Local Government
Mr. Tunde Azeez Disco has stepped down as the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, citing persistent health challenges as the reason for his resignation.

The former chairman submitted his resignation letter to the Agege Local Government Legislative Arm.

He noted that his health status had significantly impacted his ability to effectively discharge his official duties.

The legislative house, while acknowledging Azeez Disco’s dedication to public service, quickly accepted the decision. Following a thorough deliberation, a unanimous resolution was passed, accepting the resignation with immediate effect.

The council wished the outgoing chairman well in his future endeavours, with the event underlining the necessity for public officials to prioritise personal health and well-being.

Ganiyu Obasa, son of the Speaker, Lagos State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, is the Vice chairman of Agege Local Government.

In May, residents of Agege, under the banner of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the local government election in Agege.

They claimed that Obasa allegedly plans to foist his surrogates as candidates in the local government and councillorship elections.

In a meeting held in response to the announcement of candidates for the chairmanship and vice-chairmanship of the Agege Local Government and Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the aggrieved residents alleged that those shortlisted as candidates to represent the area were handpicked by Obasa.

They said the process was void of internal democracy and collective participation.

Addressing the media, Kamardeen Sabitu, chairman of the PCC for Agege and Orile-Agege, alleged that Obasa did everything possible to manipulate the political structure in the area for personal gain.

During the protest, demonstrators carried placards reading “Red Card, Obasa O to ge, (it is enough). They also chanted songs such as “Enough is Enough, this suffering is enough, Tinubu, rescue us.”

Politics

JUST IN: Reps In Rowdy Session, Reject Key Motions

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2025

Editor

The plenary session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday turned rowdy after members voted against some motions of urgent public importance, which bordered on the protection of lives and key government assets.

With the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, presiding, the session became rowdy, as members dissolved into a closed-door session to restore order.

It all started when the member representing Somolu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Ademorin Kuye, drew the attention of his colleagues to what he called the illegal allocation of lands within the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex and prayed the House to refer the matter to the Committee on Public Assets for investigation.

Kuye, a member of the All Progressives Congress is the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets.

Proposing an amendment to the prayers, Delta lawmaker and Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, argued that though the matter brought before the Green Chamber is urgent enough, the Committee on Commerce, not Public Assets, should be in charge of the investigation.

Waive was supported by Akwa Ibom lawmaker, Mark Esset, who argued that “It is the Committee on Commerce that should take responsibility on this matter.”

On the other hand, Yusuf Gagdi representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Plateau State, supported Kuye, stating that the Public Assets Committee should be allowed to take charge of investigating the allegation of illegal land sale and submit a report to the House.

With no end to the back-and-forth argument in sight, Gbefwi Gaza (SDP, Nasarawa) on the advice of Kalu, proposed the constitution of an Ad-hoc Committee comprising members of both Committees (Public Assets and Commerce) to conduct the probe.

When subjected to a voice vote, almost an equal number of lawmakers voted in support and against the motion.

Not sure whose voices were louder, Kalu gave it to the nays, sparking unrest in the chamber.

Next on the order of urgent motions was Mohammed Bio representing Baruten/Kaima Federal Constituency, Kwara State.

Bio who lamented the worsening security situation in his constituency, prayed the House to urge the military to establish a base in the crisis-prone areas to stem the tides of attacks.

This time, more lawmakers voted against the motion, to the surprise of Kalu and the Kwara lawmaker.

It became clear to Kalu that members had resolved to frustrate the day’s session owing to the rejection of Kuye’s motion.

So, when again voices thundered against Ayodeji Alao-Akala’s motion which drew members’ attention to the need to address Nigeria’s description as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the United States President, Mr Donald Trump; Kalu allowed the motion to pass, forcing members to openly oppose the decision.

Voices of dissent rent the chambers and the plenary was suspended for a closed-door session.

…Details later