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

PDP Issues Certificate Of Expulsion To Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu, Others

Published

3 days ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it has issued certificate of expulsion from the party to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other 10 members earlier expelled from the party.

The party National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen after the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The other members, according to him, include the embattled National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the Legal Adviser, Kamarudeen Ajibade, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

They also included Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah Nnanna, George Turna and Chief Dan Orbih, expelled during the party National convention in Lagos.

Turaki said that the original copies of the certificate had been dispatched to the owners through a courier service to serve as proof that they were expelled from the PDP.

“We have taken note of the fact that Nigerian law frowns on dual membership of political parties, and so we have sought to make it easy for them.

“Now that they are no longer members of our party, and now that the National Convention, which is the highest decision-making organ of our party, has expelled them, we have decided to issue them certificates of expulsion.

“So, when they go to register with other political parties in Nigeria, they will show these certificates as proof that they are no longer members of the PDP.

“By that, those parties will not accuse them of trying to belong to more than one political party,” he said.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, and other government agencies, to take note.

“Very soon, members of the society will be informed via proper disclaimers that any person henceforth who decides to do business with them, any or all of them, does so at his or her own risk.

“They are no longer members of the PDP. They have been expelled,” he added.

He added that the NWC also reviewed some of the cases filed against the party and lawsuits instituted by the party, particularly the one that related to the “unlawful and illegal” closure of the party’s national Secretariat, the Legacy House, and the Wadata Plaza.

“The brief we received from our lawyers is that we are on sound ground, and that very soon, the law will take its course,” he said.

Turaki said the NWC was prepared to be saddled with the responsibility of performing its functions as the leading opposition party in Nigeria.

“We are going to provide a credible alternative to Nigerians. We are going to provide credible leadership to Nigerians by the special grace of God from 2027,” he said.

Politics

Adebayo Adedamola Wins Osun PDP Governorship Primary

Published

4 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, popularly known as FRYO, has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the August 8, 2026 governorship election in Osun State.

The primary election took place in Osogbo on Tuesday amid heavy security presence.

Announcing the result, chairman of the primary election committee, Humphrey Abba, stated that Adebayo secured 919 votes out of 957 accredited ballots, giving him a clear victory in the contest.

Explaining that there were 20 void votes following the withdrawal of one of the candidates, believed to be Governor Ademola Adeleke, Abba added, “The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and he stands elected and returned.”

DAILY POST reports that despite announcing his resignation from the party, Adeleke’s name appeared on the ballot paper for the PDP governorship primary.

Party officials said the exercise was conducted in accordance with established guidelines, with accredited delegates participating in the voting process.

Adeleke announced his resignation in a letter dated November 4, 2025, and addressed to the PDP leadership at his ward.

On Monday, Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, had announced that the governorship primary slated for Tuesday, December 2, 2025, has been postponed due to leadership crisis at the national level.

But a faction of the party went ahead with the exercise in Osogbo on Tuesday.

Politics

Gov Adeleke Resigns From PDP

Published

5 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial primaries of the party.

Adeleke’s resignation letter, dated November 4, 2025, sighted by Tribune Online was addressed to the PDP ward chairman for Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde, Ede, Osun State.

According to the letter, the governor’s resignation was based on “the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”

According to the letter, titled: “Resignation of my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’ read, “Due to the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my Membership of the People’s Democratic Party with immediate effect.

“I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party.”