Politics
Edo election tribunal: PDP witnesses allege irregularities in three LGs
- /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PDP.jpg&description=Edo election tribunal: PDP witnesses allege irregularities in three LGs', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PDP.jpg&description=Edo election tribunal: PDP witnesses allege irregularities in three LGs', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Witnesses of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, gave testimonies on how irregularities allegedly marred the Sept. 21, 2024, Edo governorship election in three Local Governments (LGs) of the state.
The PDP and its candidate in the election, Dr Asue Ighodalo, are challenging the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Gov. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.
Being led in evidence by Abiodun Owonikoko, PDP counsel in the petition, one of the witnesses, Kennedy Osifo, tendered agents’ copies of the election results for 76 polling units.
The polling units are in Ward II of Ikpoba Okha local government area, where he alleged four electoral irregularities.
According to him, the irregularities were observed when the agents’ copies were examined alongside the certified true copies of the results of BVAS accreditation report obtained from the INEC’s IREV portal.
He said that the discrepancies had been highlighted in his witness statement on oath, which he urged the tribunal to adopt in evidence in the case.
Osifo, who said that he was the PDP local government collation officer in the poll, alleged that the INEC relied on incorrect scores to announce the election’s final result.
When cross-examined, Osifo said that his testimonies were based strictly on the two documents and not on contacts with the agents.
On his part, Adebayo Ogedegbe alleged cases of irregularities in 45 units across Akoko-Edo LG of the state.
Ogedegbe, the party collation officer for the local government, testified that INEC computed incorrect scores that negated the records in the certified true copies in 41 of these units.
The witness alleged overvoting in the four other units, seeking to tender the agents’ copies of the results of these units in evidence to corroborate his claims.
For Owan West LG, Lucky Aroye tendered agents’ copies of results in nine units where he also alleged overvoting.
Aroye said that there were no prior recordings of sensitive materials in seven units of the LG, urging INEC to adopt his statement on oath as evidence in the case.
When asked if the witness was able to visit all the units in the local government as the collation officer, he said there was no way he could have done that, considering the number.
Meanwhile, messers Kalu Agabi, Onyechi Ikpeazu, and Ukala, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), counsels to INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC, objected to the admissibility of the tendered documents.
The lawyers, however, reserved their grounds to the final written addresses.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the chairman of the tribunal, in his ruling, said that the documents were provisionally admitted in evidence.
Kpochi adjourned the sitting until Wednesday for continuation of hearing.
(NAN)
The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has set up five-man reconciliation committee headed by Chief Obi Onwuachu.
The committee is mandated to reconcile all aggrieved members after the party’s primaries.
Other members of the committee are Ichie Mike Ejezie , Chief Amechi Chinweze, Chief Chris Akaghalu and Chief Mrs Tina Aronu
Their names were announced on Friday at the APC State Secretariat in Awka by the party during its expanded stakeholders meeting, led by the state chairman, Senator Emma Anosike.
The party used the occasion to ratify the expulsion of seven alleged recalcitrant members, who dragged the party to court in defiance to the APC’s constitution.
Furthermore, the party announced names of the three Senatorial candidates who emerged during the recent primaries in the state
They are Chief Mrs Chibuogwu Benson-Oraelosi for the South zone, Dr Mrs Ngozi Kene-Chiedu for the Central and Chief Kingsley Nnalue for the North .
Addressing the stakeholders,the state chairman, Senator Emma Anosike, declared that the party will do everything humanly possible to make sure that President Bola Tinubu wins the 2027 presidential election in Anambra.
He said: “Everything we are doing in APC belongs to Ward Chairmen, they hold everything.
“There is no bigger Party than APC in the coming 2027 elections in Anambra, anybody not proud of APC in Nigeria is making mistake. We must believe in the administration of Mr President, Bola Tinubu.
“If you are not a member of APC, you are not. Anyone that takes the party to court is automatically, expelled.
“This party is as strong as never before and every mobilization must go through the wards. We are entering operational election and not hide and seek election,” Anosike said.
An aggrieved political association, All Democratic Alliance, ADA, and its Protem Director of Mobilization, Ahidjo Ibrahim Karlahi have dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before the Federal High Court in Abuja praying for an order of the Court to compel the electoral body to withdraw the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party in Nigeria.
The grouse of ADA and Karlahi are predicated on allegations that the Senator Seriake Dickson led NDC was illegally and fraudulently registered by INEC as a political party for the purpose of participating in election matters in the country.
In a suit with number FHC/ ABJ/CS/1115/2026, the two plaintiffs alleged that INEC gravely breached, disobeyed, ignored, omitted and deliberately failed to ensure compliance with relevant laws in the ways and manners NDC was secretly registered.
Among others, Karlahi and ADA alleged that the electoral umpire failed to comply with sections 1, 6, 13, 14, 222, 251 of the 1999 Constitution and sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act in the registration of the NDC.
In the suit instituted on their behalf by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Bankole Joel Akomolafe via an originating summons, the two plaintiffs claimed that NDC never met any of the Constitutional requirements for it to qualify for registration as a political party.
Besides, they asserted that INEC has no unfettered and unrestricted discretion to register the NDC as a political party.
They therefore prayed the Federal High Court to issue an order against INEC to void, set aside, cancelled and revoke the purported certificate of registration in possession of NDC.
The two plaintiffs also sought order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from further recognizing, accepting, maintaining in its records or present any person on the authority of NDC as a political party for any election.
Another order of perpetual injunction was sought against NDC restraining it from parading, introducing, presenting or call itself a registered political party either by publication, broadcast or any other means.
The suit instituted on June 2, 2026 was supported by a 25 paragraph affidavit deposed to by the first plaintiff, Hon Ahidjo Ibrahim Karlahi.
While Ahidjo Ibrahim Karlahi and All Democratic Alliance are the two plaintiffs, INEC and Nigeria Democratic Congress are listed as the two defendants.
Meanwhile, no date has yet been fixed for hearing of the new suit.
Osborne Ubong Okon, a political aide to Prince Godwin Ntuk Udeh—the Political Adviser to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno—has been relieved of his duties after criticising President Bola Tinubu on social media.
The development comes amid rising national concerns over the security situation in the country, further highlighted by the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
Taking to his Facebook page to express his frustration with the current situation, Mr. Okon, who identifies as a member of the ruling party, wrote:
“In a sane clime president Bola Ahmed Tinubu would’ve respectfully and honourably resigned. I’m of APC but truth be told.”
A few hours after the Facebook post went live, the office of the Political Adviser issued a letter terminating Mr. Okon’s appointment with immediate effect.
Governor Umo Eno has consistently maintained a good relationship with the federal government since defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in June 2025.
DSS intercepts arms shipment bound for bandit kingpin, nabs suspect
Toyin Adewale Says Marriage Is Not A Do-Or-Die Affair
Revenue: IMF asks FG to impose fuel, telecom taxes
-
News8 hours agoFinally, ex- Defence spokesperson, Rabe Abubakar buried in Katsina
-
News8 hours agoProtect Vulnerable Benue People From Persistent Attacks, Pope Leo XIV Tells FG
-
News8 hours agoTinubu condemns death of retired general Rabe in kidnappers’ custody
-
News21 hours agoRetired Major General Dies in Bandits’ Captivity Despite Rescue Efforts
-
News16 hours agoDHQ Reacts As Ex-spokesperson, Gen. Radabe Dies In Bandits’ Den
-
News8 hours agoBoard releases lists of successful NSCDC, NIS, NCoS applicants
-
News16 hours agoSpeaker Abbas expresses sadness over demise of Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo
-
News8 hours agoInsecurity: Kogi Bans Okada Operations In Bunu District, Night Travel
Warning: Undefined variable $user_ID in /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/comments.php on line 49
You must be logged in to post a comment Login