The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, Chief Anthony Aziegbemin, has expressed confidence that the party will emerge victorious at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
This comes as the tribunal, sitting in Abuja, adjourned further proceedings in the petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election. The three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, adjourned the case to Wednesday to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission to defend the results it announced in favour of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress.
The electoral commission’s legal team, which includes five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), is led by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi.
PDP Satisfied with Witness Testimonies
Speaking to journalists, Chief Aziegbemin expressed satisfaction with the testimonies and evidence provided by the 19 witnesses who testified for the petitioners. He stated that the PDP had carefully selected witnesses to support their claims of irregularities during the collation of results by INEC.
“We are confident of victory because we have presented our witnesses to speak to our case, which is principally about the fact that elections held at the 4,519 polling units in Edo State.
“At the unit level, we do not have issues except for a few places. Where the issues started manifesting with the connivance of INEC was at the ward level.
“We believe that the case is pretty straightforward, and we believe that it is documentary-based.
“We called the witnesses that we needed to prove our case,” the PDP chairman stated.
INEC’s Opposition to BVA Machines’ Admissibility
Chief Aziegbemin noted that INEC was compelled to present 153 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines used in 133 polling units where the election results were disputed. However, he found it unusual that the commission objected to the admissibility of these devices as evidence.
According to him, the BVAS machines are crucial in establishing allegations of over-voting during the election.
“You conducted an election and certified documents for the petitioners, yet, when the petitioners wanted to tender the same documents, you said you are objecting to it and will give reasons later. Is that not strange?
“I can understand Okpebholo and the APC objecting, but for INEC to object to its own documents being tendered in court, I think it is strange,” Aziegbemin remarked.
PDP’s Case Against Okpebholo’s Victory
INEC had declared that Okpebholo of the APC won the election with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Ighodalo of the PDP, who polled 247,655 votes.
However, in their petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, the PDP and its candidate argued that Governor Okpebholo did not secure the highest number of lawful votes cast.
The petitioners urged the tribunal to invalidate the Certificate of Return issued to the APC candidate by INEC, insisting that the election was not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act.
With proceedings set to continue on Wednesday, the tribunal is expected to hear INEC’s defence, which will be critical in determining the outcome of the case.
