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All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun defense in an ongoing conflict in Edo state by calling four witnesses before the EDO Governor Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja .
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate Asue Ighodalo have filed a petition challenging the election results, citing fraudulent activities, including voting in multiple voting units.
First Witness confirms overvoting
First witness, Benin city businessman and resident Ahuda Theophilas Idemudia, told the court that he monitored elections in the local government area of northeastern Esan.
Idemudia led evidence from APC’s lawyer Echezona Etiaba (SAN) to confirm that PDP agents have signed the election results from Esan North East.
He identified the exhibit PCB-40, ballots and verification statements, explained that Part A was completed before the vote was held, and that Part B was completed after the vote was finished.
Upon reviewing the document, Idemudia confirmed the serial number of the ballots issued to the voting unit.
Idemudia has accused 96 voters under cross-examination by PDP lawyer Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), but over-voting occurred in Article 6, Article 6, Item 11, where 97 votes were recorded. I admitted that I did. He agreed that this led to the cancellation of the outcomes in the unit.
The second witness supports allegations of voice-over
The second witness, Camaroodeen's Cokerbello, and Camaroodeen's Cokerbello, AKOKO Local Government Agent of the Edo LGA, adopted a witness statement in court.
Under cross-examination, he acknowledged that the petitioner claimed he overvoted in 17 voting forces in the local government area.
The third witness denies the complaint but admits overvoting
Engr. Gabriel Iduseri, who served as the Oredo LGA’s APC match agent, claimed there were no complaints from party agents about the election’s actions.
However, he admitted that results from Voting Unit 8, District 10 were cancelled at the Ward Matching Centre due to overvoting.
When asked about the table of voting units on PDP petition lists 53 and 66 with suspected inconsistencies, Iduseri admitted that he read the petition but could not recall the exact number of dispute units.
The fourth witness confirms cancellation due to overvoting
Hon. Frank David, APC matching agent for the Owan West LGA, testified that INEC officials had eagerly collated the results without objection from party agents.
However, under cross-examination, he was presented with an IREV report showing inconsistencies in the numbers of recognized voters.
Only 36 voters were recognized in the 4th district and 19th division, but 37 votes were recorded.
In the 8th district, valid votes for Article 8, 79 were recorded, and one rejected vote was recorded despite only 80 voters being recognized.
David also confirmed that overvoting has cancelled results from Route 5.
APC presenting additional documentation
Following witness testimony, APC’s chief attorney, Emmanuel Ukara (SAN), has informed the court that the party is preparing a schedule of documents to bid as evidence when proceedings resume. .
The court subsequently postponed the hearing on Thursday for further lawsuits.
