PDP Witness Unveils Damning Evidence at Edo Tribunal, Leaves APC in Disarray

The Edo Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja was the stage for explosive revelations today as a key witness for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) dismantled the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Monday Okpebholo as governor.

In his testimony, the witness, an expert in electoral processes, systematically exposed multiple violations of INEC’s own guidelines. Citing Section 2.3.6 of the INEC Manual for Election Officials, he pointed out the commission’s failure to record the serial numbers of sensitive election materials in Form EC25B. According to the witness, this procedural lapse rendered results from 320 polling units invalid.

The witness provided detailed evidence highlighting irregularities in INEC’s management of the election. Under cross-examination, he revealed that INEC had only uploaded 4,466 out of the 4,519 polling unit results to the IReV portal, leaving 53 results unaccounted for. This, he argued, directly contradicted claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) counsel that all results had been uploaded.

“That is patently false, my Lord,” the witness told the tribunal. “INEC’s failure to upload 53 results is a clear violation, and their claim otherwise cannot be substantiated.”

Attempts by the APC’s legal team to discredit the witness fell flat, as he deftly countered every argument. When the APC counsel questioned his absence from polling units during the election, the witness responded confidently:

“My Lord, counsel earlier referenced 16 polling unit results, noting that 3 were not stamped. Yet, counsel himself was not physically present at any polling unit. Similarly, my findings are based on a forensic examination of official documents, which reveal significant irregularities, including over-voting, unfilled mandatory forms, and improperly collated results in 765 polling units.”

The witness further asserted that the true winner of the election was Barr. Ighodalo of the PDP. “My Lord, Barr. Ighodalo won the election. This fact is available to anyone with access to the documents,” he declared, leaving the courtroom in stunned silence.

Visibly rattled by the testimony, the APC counsel ended his cross-examination abruptly. With no significant counterarguments to the overwhelming evidence presented, the tribunal adjourned proceedings to January 30th.

As the tribunal resumes in the coming days, the testimony of this star witness will undoubtedly remain a key focal point. The PDP appears poised to press further on their claims of electoral irregularities, setting the stage for a potentially historic verdict.