Politics

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

Published

8 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

Fubara Sacks Commissioners, Others

Published

1 day ago

October 2, 2025

Editor

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has sacked all commissioners and other public office holders serving in his administration.

The decision, according to a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday evening by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, takes immediate effect and followed the recent Supreme Court judgment.

The governor, during a valedictory session with his cabinet to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary at Government House, Port Harcourt, thanked the outgoing officials for their services and contributions to the state’s development over the past two years.

The statement read in part, “Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has thanked members of his cabinet for their services and contributions to the development of the state in the last two years.

“The governor highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s Independence, and called on all Nigerians to work together with Mr President to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous country and a brighter future for all.

“Furthermore, the Governor has relieved all Commissioners and other public officers affected by the recent Supreme Court judgment of their appointments with immediate effect.”

Fubara also reiterated his commitment to serve the state “with renewed vigour,” while expressing gratitude to Rivers people for their support and wishing Nigerians a happy Independence anniversary.

Recall that the immediate past administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), upon assumption of office during the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu, suspended all commissioners, special advisers, and assistants appointed by Fubara. Ibas also dissolved boards and suspended heads of parastatals he met in office.

Since Ibas exited the state on September 18, the fate of Fubara’s appointees had remained uncertain. The Rivers State House of Assembly, at its first sitting after the lifting of the emergency rule, had called on the governor to submit a fresh list of commissioner-nominees for screening, alongside the 2025 budget for passage.

Politics

2027: Crisis Rocks Kaduna ADC Over Power Tussle

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2025

Editor

The Kaduna State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is enmeshed in crisis as a fierce power struggle among leading figures threatens the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.

ADC stalwart, Malam Salihu Lukman, raised the alarm on Wednesday, warning that the party may not make a meaningful impact at the polls if the internal rift persists.

In a statement, Lukman alleged that some party leaders have aligned with certain aspiring candidates for the 2027 elections to the exclusion of others.

He called on former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Malam Jaafaru Sani, Alhaji Bashir Saidu, and other opposition leaders in the state to halt what he described as “the madness” of candidates bent on hijacking party structures.

According to him, “anybody who is not ready to work as part of a united opposition in Kaduna State is consciously or unconsciously working for the APC.”

Expressing concern over the infighting, Lukman said his efforts to mediate had largely failed.

“The fact that Senator Musa Bello is aggressively seeking to control structures of ADC in Zone 2 is a reflection of my failure, largely because I am associated with him.

“Senator Lawal Adamu (Mr. La) has avoided all my requests to meet him. I have met Malam Jaafaru Sani on this matter and had discussions with Malam Nasir. Sadly, we are not united, and the perception is that I am part of the problem.”

Lukman stressed that he has no political ambition but remains committed to building a united front. “As a citizen from Kaduna State, I am willing to make every necessary sacrifice to move our state forward. Without sounding immodest, I made every sacrifice to contribute to forming the coalition and negotiating the agreement with ADC.

“May I therefore appeal to Malam Nasir and all our leaders to please seek to unite us. It is only if we are united in ADC that we can unite our people in the state to defeat the APC in 2027. We must bear in mind that it is not just about defeating APC but about producing a government controlled by our party based on collective leadership.

“We need to put an end to the era when we produce emperors as governors. Anything short of a government managed by collective leadership under ADC will be unacceptable.”

Politics

Ondo PDP Spokesperson Resigns, Gives Reason

Published

3 days ago

October 1, 2025

Editor

The Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, Mr Leye Igbabo, has resigned from his position, citing an unfriendly and hostile environment.

Igbabo’s resignation letter was addressed to the state secretariat of the party and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Akure.

He alleged that the working environment has become “hostile” to him, hence the need for him to resign.

“It is disheartening to know that the secretariat has become hostile to me, and this is affecting the effectiveness and efficiency of my duties as the Director of Media and Publicity.

“I note with pain, utter deceit, huge compromise, and gross indiscipline that there is no more sincerity of purpose, and under such circumstances, I do not want to be labelled as an incompetent official.

“My continuously staying in such an unproductive environment amounts to a precious waste of my time and energy.

“I, therefore, resign my appointment as the Director of Media and Publicity of PDP in Ondo State with immediate effect,” he said.

(NAN)