Benin City, Edo State – Shocking revelations emerged today at the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, presided over by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, as a witness detailed alleged irregularities in the collation of results during the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
The witness, serving as the Local Government Area (LGA) Collation Agent for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikpoba Okha, testified that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unlawfully excluded 2,840 votes cast for the PDP candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, across 76 polling units in Ward 2 of the LGA.
Presenting evidence in case number EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, the witness tendered Certified True Copies (CTCs) of INEC results from the IREV portal, as well as polling unit result sheets (Form EC8A) issued to agents. According to the testimony, the correct scores, as uploaded to the IREV portal, were altered in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during collation from ward to state levels (Forms EC8B to EC8E).
The witness explained that a detailed examination of INEC-verified documents, including Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, and EC8D, revealed discrepancies. Results from the 76 affected polling units had been declared and uploaded at the polling unit level but were omitted during subsequent collation at the LGA and state levels.
Under cross-examination by Kanu Agabi (SAN), counsel for the respondents, the witness reaffirmed his role as a collation agent and confirmed the authenticity of the documents he reviewed. He also presented additional evidence, including his official agent identification tags, BVAS accreditation data, and original result sheets from INEC.
Despite objections from legal representatives of INEC and the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, the tribunal admitted all the evidence tendered by the witness.
The tribunal’s proceedings continue, with expectations of further disclosures as the case unfolds.
