Politics

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

Published

1 year 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

APC Senatorial Primaries: National Organising Secretary Clears Oden Ewa For Cross River Central, Others

Published

2 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Editor

Ahead of the ongoing scheduled All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Primaries holding across the country today, Oden Ewa and seven others have been cleared by the National Organising Secretary (NOS) of the party at the just concluded screening exercise, to contest the primaries.

This was made public by NOS after the screening exercise in the State.

Ewa, the immediate past Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, was cleared alongside the incumbent Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, who is planning for third term.

The contest in Central Senatorial District is said to be a hot chase between Ewa and the incumbent, however, Ewa is believed to have an edge as he is seen as a fresh start with new ideas for the district.

He is popular among the party leaders and commands huge following within the party followers and the Senatorial district for his various contributions to the development of the district over the years.

His aspiration also enjoys the support of the teeming youths in the area with many youth groups in the district lining behind him. He is said to fit into the aspirational needs of the youths and others within the district who are calling for new and fresh representation.

Others cleared by NOS for the primaries include; Asuquo Ekpenyoung (South); Adans Cecilia Omoniya, Senator Jarigbe Agom, Dr Johna Onyi Agba, and Mary Ogoba Ekpere Eta (North).

Politics

APC Members In Ikole LG Condemn Attacks On Members During Reps Primary

Published

20 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Editor

….Seek safer venues for remaining primaries

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Òkè-Àkò Ekiti, Irele-Ekiti and Ijowa-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State have strongly condemned the violence, intimidation and attacks that characterised the House of Representatives Primary Election held in Ward 11, Ipao-Ekiti.

The APC members lamented that the exercise, which ought to have reflected the democratic ideals of the party, was unfortunately marred by violent attacks carried out by political thugs against party faithful perceived to be supporting a different aspirant from the one backed by the attackers.

Among those attacked were Hon. Samuel Adetiba and Mr. Ore Bamidele, the latter, who was beaten into a coma and is presently in critical condition at a private hospital in the locality where he is receiving medical attention.

Beyond the physical attacks on members, cmpaign banners belonging to the aspirant opposed by the attackers were also vandalised and destroyed during the incident.

The APC members expressed disappointment that the incident was orchestrated by one of the chairmanship candidates for the Among Local Community Development Authority (LCDA), in the presence of the APC leader in the Ekamefa area, Hon. Samuel Abejide, who did nothing to stop the attacks of the party faithful.

In addition to the physical assaults, properties belonging to APC members in Ipao-Ekiti were reportedly damaged, while elderly men and women from Òkè-Àkò Ekiti, Irele-Ekiti and Ijowa-Ekiti were allegedly molested, threatened and forcefully removed from voting queues simply for supporting aspirants of their choices.

Olaiya Ajibulu, who spoke on behalf of the affected party members expressed deep concern over what they described as a growing atmosphere of fear and political intolerance capable of undermining unity within the party and threatening the safety of members participating in future exercises.

Consequently, Ajibulu said that the affected APC members from the three communities appealed passionately to the leadership of the party in Ekiti State, as well as His Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, to urgently intervene in the matter.

They also requested that subsequent APC primary elections involving the three communities be moved away from Ipao-Ekiti to a neutral and safer venue where the lives and rights of party members could be adequately protected.

“Alternatively, we appeal that Òkè-Àkò Ekiti, Irele-Ekiti and Ijowa-Ekiti should be allowed to conduct their remaining primary elections at a separate venue where members can freely exercise their democratic rights without intimidation, harassment, or fear of violence.” Ajibulu reiterated.

The affected members also sympathised with all victims of the attacks and prayed for the speedy recovery of those currently receiving medical attention, particularly Mr. Ore Bamidele.

They reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals of democracy, peaceful coexistence and party unity, while urging all stakeholders to ensure that future political exercises are conducted in an atmosphere of peace, fairness and mutual respect.

News

Logistics Challenges Mars APC Reps Primaries In Abia

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2026

Editor

The House of Representatives primary elections of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Abia State has been rocked by logistics challenges and reports of intense lobbying.

The exercise, scheduled to commence on Saturday morning, is yet to start in any part of the state as at 3:00 pm.

A visit by DAILY POST to several wards where the primary elections were supposed to hold in Umuahia showed that no party official was on duty.

At Amuzukwu Secondary School, Umuwaya Amuzukwu, Methodist Primary School at Crowther Street, Umuahia North Local Government Headquarters, no official of the APC or the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, staff was seen.

Two female police officers who were deployed to provide security in Umuwaya Amuzukwu were left in confusion as they could not meet any APC official at the centre.

Source disclosed that some of the aspirants in various constituencies in Abia State refused the offer to step down before the primares, insisting that they be allowed to test their popularity in the exercise.

Meanwhile, two leaders of the City Boys Movement in Abia State, Chinedu Orji and Lucky Igbokwe, who are aspiring for the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, have issued statements maintaining that they are firmly in the race.

Explaining the delay in the commencement of the APC primary election, Publicity Secretary of Abia State APC, Uche Aguoru, attributed the situation to logistics challenges.

Aguoru invited all House of Representatives aspirants and other party stakeholders to an “emergency mandatory meeting” to be held at APC new office by Saturday evening.