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The Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal resumed its sittings today Tuesday, January 28, in the FCT, Abuja, with a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Data Analyst and Expert Witness appearing to testify against INEC’s declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo as winner of the September 21st Governorship Election in Edo State.
The Tribunal Secretary, Mu’azu Bagudu, announced the relocation of the Election Petition Tribunal from Benin City to Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Friday.
At the continuation of hearing in Abuja, the PDP witness and Data expert relied on his forensic examination of original agent copies and CTCs of Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C EC8D, including IREV results, BVAS Accreditation reports and extracts to lead evidence of over voting in 75 Polling Units across 18 LGAs in Edo State.
He also stated that the 1st Respondent INEC did not record, in the prescribed forms, serial numbers and other particulars of result sheets, BVAS Machines and other sensitive electoral materials and their failure to make the prior recording in the prescribed forms renders the election in 320 polling units invalid for failure to comply with requirement of prior recording under the Electoral Act, 2022.
Answering clearly the questions referred to him under cross examination by Counsels to the first respondents, Kanu Agabi SAN, the expert witness confirmed with mathematical accuracy that after you take away the invalid votes from the valid votes, the petitioner, Dr. Ighodalo, clearly won the September 21st Governorship election in Edo State.
Pressed further by Counsels to 2nd respondents (Okpebholo), Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, the expert witness affirmed that the case of non prior recording of serial numbers by INEC is exclusively based on forms EC25B and this affected 320 Polling Units which ought to be invalidated in accordance with the Electoral Act.
A mild drama occurred during his cross examination by Counsel to APC, E.U Ukala, the Witness was quizzed on where he obtained BVAS Accreditation reports and he showed further proof that they are duly certified as data extracts from the BVAS machine obtained by INEC in January 2025. Frustrated by this response, Counsel to APC decided to let him go without using up the time allotted for his cross examination.
The expert witness was ever willing to go on but Counsels to Respondents pleaded for adjournment to January 30th 2025.
