The Edo State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal, on Tuesday, expressed its displeasure with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for failing to produce witnesses in their petition challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
Presiding over the tribunal’s first sitting in Abuja following its relocation from Benin, Justice Wilfred Kpochi criticized the PDP’s inability to utilize the scheduled time effectively, stating it had wasted judicial resources.
The tribunal, which was relocated to Abuja amidst security concerns and fears of possible arson, had cleared its docket on Tuesday to focus solely on the PDP’s petition. However, the party’s counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, cited travel disruptions as the reason for the absence of key witnesses, despite prior commitments.
“My lords, most of our witnesses faced travel difficulties. We assure you they will be available at the next sitting,” Oyeyipo pleaded.
Justice Kpochi, visibly irked, questioned the seriousness of the petitioners. “Why then did we reschedule other matters to prioritize yours? We could have heard other cases today.”
Despite Oyeyipo’s plea for understanding, the tribunal adjourned the matter to Thursday, emphasizing the need for expediency in the proceedings.
Earlier in the session, Mr. Oseyili Anenih, who served as the PDP’s Director of Research and Strategy during the election, admitted under cross-examination that his observations were based on reports from the party’s situation room, not direct interactions with polling units.
Anenih revealed that PDP is contesting the results from 765 of Edo’s 4,519 polling units, alleging that many valid votes were not properly transmitted to the state collation centers. He also confirmed the party’s reliance on screenshots of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, as they lacked physical access to the devices.
While acknowledging inconsistencies in the stamping of results, Anenih argued that the stamped copies represented a significant sample of the alleged irregularities.
The PDP and Ighodalo have asked the tribunal to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They allege widespread non-compliance with the Electoral Act and other irregularities, arguing that their candidate secured the majority of valid votes.
Governor Okpebholo’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, dismissed the claims, emphasizing the lack of concrete evidence from the petitioners.
As the tribunal prepares to resume on Thursday, all eyes remain on the PDP to present its case and witnesses. The outcome of the petition could significantly impact the political landscape in Edo State.