In continuation of presentation of its case, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside its candidate for the September 21, 2024 Governorship Election in Edo State, Dr Asue Ighodalo, on Wednesday fielded three more witnesses from three local government areas in the state.

Recall that the PDP and its candidate in the election are challenging Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, of the All Progressives Congress as the winner.

The petitioners at Tuesday sitting commenced its presentation of witness as three witnesses drawn from Ikpoba-Okha, Akoko-Edo, and Owan West Local Government Areas testified in support of the petitioners’ claims.

Justice Wilfred Kpochi led three-man Tribunal later adjourned sitting to Wednesday for continuation of hearing of the petition.

At the resumption of proceedings on Wednesday, the witnesses of the PDP and its candidate gave testimonies before the court, claim wide spread irregularities marred the conduct of the poll in their local government areas.

Destiny Oghayerio Enabulele, led in evidence by counsel to the petitioners, Abiodun Owonikoko, said that in arriving at the averment on his witness statement on oath, he personally examined documents used in the election which include but not limited to certified true copies of INEC’s summary of the Wards collation results.

“These are documents I personally examined carefully to arrive at my witness statement on oath. There was not prior recording of sensitive materials deployed by INEC to 19 polling Units in Ovia South West Local Government Area,” he said.

When asked by counsel to the respondents whether he participated in the makings of the documents he used to arrived at his statement on oath, Enabulele said that he only participated in the making of Form EC8C (Ward Collation result).

However, there was a mid-drama when the petitioners’ witness from Etsako West Local Government Area, Babah Idenobhe, told the court in his testimonies that there was over voting in three polling Units (units 021-023) amin his local government area.

It was however, discovered that some of the documents the witness claimed to have relied on in arriving at his statement on oath were certified by INEC on January 8, 2025, while his statement on oath was deposed to October 10, 2024.

“One of the materials I took into consideration in my deposition is the original certified true copies of polling units results, photographed with with the BIVAS machines”, he posited.

Also, Moses Agbukor, from Etsako East Local Government Area, who functioned in the exercise as Collation Agent for his party PDP in the LGA, in his testimonies also claimed over voting and non prior recording of sensitive materials.

The witness had earlier prayed the court to admit his Party’s Ward Collation Agent Tag, as well as his witness statement on oath as evidence for the petitioners.

Meanwhile, Kalu Agabi, SAN, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and Ukala, SAN, who are counsel to the INEC, Okpebholo and the APC respectively objected the admissibility of the tendered documents, but reserved their grounds to the final written addresses.

The Chairman of the Tribunal, Kpochi, in his ruling, said the documents were provisionally admitted in evidence.

He then adjourned the sitting until Thursday, January 22, 2025 for continuation of hearing.

The factional leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has accused Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara and four South-East governors of orchestrating a political conspiracy to derail President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 reelection bid.

The group claims the alleged plot also targets the political influence of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, creating unrest within his home base of Rivers State.

In a statement made available to Ripples Nigeria and signed by its Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the factional group warned of a “perilous political conspiracy” involving prominent political figures, opposition elites, and international actors allegedly seeking to exploit Nigeria’s economic challenges and insecurity to destabilize the Tinubu administration.

The statement alleged that Governor Fubara and his South-East counterparts were attempting to hijack the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to push their agenda, which includes forming alliances with Northern political factions ahead of the 2027 elections.

“These governors are engaging in an unacceptable attempt to usurp elements of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s leadership, motivated by a malevolent desire to politically undermine FCT Minister Nyesom Wike in his home state,” said Isiguzoro.

He accused the governors of leveraging the economic hardships and insecurity facing the country to incite discontent and rally support for their political ambitions, describing their actions as “a calculated effort to stir discontent among the populace by exploiting real economic grievances.”

The factional Ohanaeze Ndigbo further alleged that the governors’ plans involved drafting disillusioned Nigerians, particularly Igbo citizens, into what it described as “planned revolutionary movements” aimed at discrediting President Tinubu.

“These factions are working tirelessly to forge an unholy alliance with Northern cabals and major ethnic leadership organizations to undermine and unseat President Tinubu,” the statement read.

The group also singled out Governor Hope Uzodinma, alleging his involvement in previous political maneuvers against Tinubu, including efforts to influence the 2023 APC primaries.

The statement emphasized the factional Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s support for President Tinubu and Minister Wike, describing them as primary targets of the alleged conspiracy.

“Both President Tinubu and FCT Minister Barr Nyesom Wike stand as the primary targets in this egregious plot,” Isiguzoro declared. “We implore patriotic Nigerians to unite against these divisive political machinations that threaten our democratic principles and collective future.”

The group called on the Igbo community and Nigerians at large to reject what it described as a dangerous scheme aimed at destabilizing the nation.

“This is not just a political power play; it’s an assault on our shared values and unity as a nation,” Isiguzoro concluded. “The time for action is now—together, we must defend our legacy, our rights, and our place in nationhood.”

The allegations underscore growing tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape as preparations for the 2027 elections begin to take shape. Governor Fubara and the Southeast governors have yet to respond to the accusations.

A former aspirant for the position of the All Progressives Congress Deputy National Chairman (North), Sunny Moniedafe, has sued the ruling party, demanding the refund of the N10m he paid for the Nomination Form in 2022.

Moniedafe filed the suit before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

The case, which was scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, was, however, stalled due to the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu.

In the suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/2434/2024, Moniedafe explained that ahead of the March 26, 2022 National Convention of the APC, he picked up the N10m Nomination Form to contest the position of the APC Deputy National Chairman (North).

He explained that during the convention, the party’s leadership, under then-President Muhammadu Buhari, urged aspirants to step down, as the position of Deputy National Chairman had been agreed to go to someone from Borno State in the North-East geopolitical zone.

According to Moniedafe, ahead of the party’s convention, leadership agreed on a consensus candidate and urged other aspirants to step down, while ex-President Muhammadu Buhari directed that the aspirants who stepped down should be refunded with N10m.

However, he stated: “Disappointingly, the leadership of the defendant (APC) reneged on its promise and blatantly refused, failed, and neglected to refund the said N10m from March 2022 to the time of filing this case, despite repeated demands by me.”

He added that several letters were sent to key APC officials and leaders, including Buhari, former Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, President Bola Tinubu, and former Senate, President Ahmad Lawan, among others.

Moniedafe said despite these efforts, the letters—along with reminders about the refund— failed to produce the desired outcome.

He emphasised that at all material times concerning the directive, former President Buhari was regarded as the leader of the APC.

On this basis, Moniedafe sought reliefs, including an order directing the APC to refund N10m to him within seven clear days after the judgment, a fine of N100m as general damages for expenses incurred while campaigning for the position in 2022, and any further orders the court may deem fit and appropriate under the circumstances.