By Adenike Lawal
Tensions ran high on Monday as proceedings resumed at the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, are challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election, in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner.
The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, heard testimony from Haruna Ibrahim, a polling unit agent, who claimed the election was generally well conducted but flagged irregularities, including over-voting, which he reported to INEC officials.
The courtroom atmosphere grew charged with the presence of former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who came to support Okpebholo, and former Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who has defected from the PDP to APC.
In a previous session, the tribunal admitted 148 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines as evidence, presented by INEC’s Senior Technical Officer, Anthony Itodo.
The PDP has also demanded INEC provide BVAS data from 133 disputed polling units.
Okpebholo was declared winner with 291,667 votes against Ighodalo’s 247,655.
However, the PDP contends that electoral violations marred the process and is seeking the tribunal’s intervention to annul the results.
