Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Monday opened his defense at the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja.
The governor’s legal team called only one witness, marking the opening and closing of his case during the hearing.
The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, are contesting the results of the September 21, 2024 election, citing alleged widespread irregularities.
At the start of the proceedings, Governor Okpebholo’s counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), informed the tribunal that the day’s agenda was for the governor to present his case. Ikpeazu requested permission from the three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, to call his sole witness.
The witness, Mr. Usman Majek, testified that he served as a polling unit agent for the All Progressives Congress during the election. During cross-examination, Majek admitted that over-voting occurred in his polling unit and confirmed that accreditation and voting took place simultaneously in his unit.
Majek further explained that he had raised concerns with the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission regarding the results he recorded on the result sheet after signing it.
After Majek’s testimony, Ikpeazu requested to close the governor’s defense. The tribunal granted the request with no objections from the opposing counsel.
Proceedings were adjourned to February 12, when the APC will begin presenting its case.
