Politics

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

Published

7 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

Tinubu’s Mandate Accomplished In Rivers — Ibas

Published

13 minutes ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has stated that the mandate given to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been “sufficiently achieved” with the restoration of democratic governance at the grassroots.

Ibas made the remark on Friday at Government House, Port Harcourt, during the presentation of the report on the recently concluded local government elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

He recalled that Tinubu, on March 18, 2025, directed him to stabilise the state, re-establish its institutions, and return Rivers to full democratic governance following his appointment as sole administrator.

According to him, the successful conduct of the polls and the swearing-in of elected chairmen and councillors across the 23 local government areas marked the fulfilment of that mandate.

“Mr. President’s mandate to me was clear: to stabilise the state, create an enabling environment for the re-establishment of its institutions, and return Rivers State back to full democratic governance. With the successful conduct and swearing-in of local government chairmen and their councils, I believe we have decisively achieved the mandate that we were given,” Ibas stated.

He praised RSIEC for what he described as a credible and transparent election, noting that the exercise was free of harassment and voters freely expressed their choices.

Ibas added that the government would review the RSIEC report and issue a white paper in due course. He also commended his team, security agencies, and state officials for their contributions.

RSIEC Chairman, Dr Mike Odey, who presented the report earlier, described the election as a “historic achievement” for Rivers and the country. He stressed that it was organised, coordinated, and concluded within 30 days — an unprecedented record in Nigerian electoral history.

Politics

2027: Jonathan, Obi Hold Closed-door Meeting

Published

23 hours ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, on Thursday, held a closed-door meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

Obi, who disclosed the visit in a post on his official X handle on Thursday, described Jonathan as his ”elder brother, a statesman, and leader,” adding that they had a fruitful meeting and discussed the state of the nation.

“Today in Abuja, I met with my very dear elder brother, statesman, and leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan. We had a fruitful closed-door meeting and discussed the state of our dear nation,” Obi wrote.

Although details of the meeting were not made public, the development comes amid ongoing conversations about Nigeria’s political direction and the state of governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Jonathan, who led Nigeria between 2010 and 2015, has in recent years positioned himself as a mediator in national and continental issues, particularly in conflict resolution and democratic strengthening efforts across Africa.

Obi, on his part, has continued to engage stakeholders following his strong showing in the 2023 elections, where he came third behind Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The meeting is the latest in Obi’s series of consultations with key political figures as discussions around Nigeria’s future political realignments intensify.

Attempts to obtain clarification from Obi’s former campaign spokesman, Dr Yunusa Tanko, and leaders of the Obidient Movement were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.

Thursday’s meeting is the latest in Obi’s string of high-level engagements, signalling what observers believe could be the early stirrings of a new political coalition.

Speculations became rife of Jonathan’s possible return after the Peoples Democratic Party zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.

There have also been reports that the PDP had been wooing Obi to return to the party, as he is seen as major force capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Politics

INEC Shortlists 14 Associations For Political Party Registration

Published

1 day ago

September 11, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that 14 political associations have met the initial requirements to proceed to the next stage of registration as political parties in Nigeria.

This decision followed the Commission’s regular meeting held on Thursday, where it also reviewed preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and the end-of-tenure Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory.

In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, INEC revealed that it received 171 applications from associations seeking registration.

“Each request was assessed on the basis of its prima facie compliance with the provisions of Section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Section 79 (1, 2 and 4) of the Electoral Act 2022 and Clause 2 (i and ii) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022,” the commission stated.

Out of the total applications, only 14 associations satisfied the preliminary legal and procedural criteria to advance, while 157 did not meet the threshold.

“Out of the total number of applications received, 14 associations have met the requirements to proceed to the next stage, while 157 have not.

“The commission shall officially communicate the decision arising from today’s meeting to all the associations in the next 24 hours,” the statement noted.

Olumekun noted that their interim chairmen and secretaries will be invited to a briefing scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 11:00 am at INEC Headquarters in Abuja.

“The interim Chairmen and Secretaries of the pre-qualified associations are invited to a briefing on Wednesday, 17th September 2025 at 11 am at the commission’s Headquarters in Abuja,” he stated.

INEC emphasised that meeting these initial criteria does not equate to full registration.

The final decision on the registrability of each association will be made after this verification phase to ensure full compliance with the legal framework.

“In addition to uploading the required information to the portal, the commission will physically verify all claims by each association in line with our Regulations and Guidelines.

“The final determination of the registrability of the associations as political parties will be made after the physical verification of all their claims to determine compliance with the legal framework,” the statement said.

“We wish to reiterate that party registration is a continuous process under the law. The commission remains open to the consideration of applications that meet the criteria as provided by law,” Olumekun added.

Fourteen associations are now cleared for the next phase, including the African Transformation Party, chaired by Ikhane Stanley, with Secretary Emmanuel Shaibu; The All Democratic Alliance is led by Chief Akin A. Ricketts and Secretary Abdullahi Musa Elayo; Mohammed Kabir and Secretary Chibuike Onyendilefu represent the Advance Nigeria Congress; while the Abundance Social Party is represented by Comrade Frank Oruwa and Secretary Sikiru Oripelaye.

The African Alliance Party is headed by Olusegun Peters with Secretary Haruna Abubakar; the Citizens Democratic Alliance is led by Engr. Muazu Magaji and Secretary Tamunotonye Inioribo; Barr. Fortune Oghenegare Aghwaretoma and Secretary Munirat Adama lead the Democratic Leadership Alliance; The Grassroots Initiative Party is represented by Nze Kanayo Chukwumezie and Secretary Mohammed Abas Kuti; while the Green Future Party has Dr. Adebayo Adefolaseye and Secretary Peace Daful as its interim leaders.

The Liberation People’s Party is chaired by Hon. Alani Akinde with Secretary Douglas Aji; Hon. Ada Okwori and Secretary Asuquo Edet Alexander are at the helm of the National Democratic Party; The National Reform Party is led by Abdulkadir Mohammed and Secretary Destiny Ormonigho Odugo; Also shortlisted are the Patriotic Peoples Alliance represented by Hon. John Ughulu and Secretary Jackie Wayas; and the Peoples Freedom Party chaired by Engr. Agbanifo Francis Akhigbe with Secretary Akintola Michael Alao.