Oshiomhole storms Edo gubernatorial tribunal as INEC submits BVAS machines

DDM News

Former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, made a significant appearance at the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja to express support for INEC and Governor Monday Okpebholo of the APC.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which declared Okpebholo the winner of the September 2024 election, played a key role in Friday’s proceedings.

INEC had earlier announced Okpebholo as the winner after securing 291,667 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who polled 247,655 votes, Diaspora digital media (DDM) reports.

However, dissatisfied with the results, the PDP and other opposition parties challenged INEC’s declaration at the tribunal.

At the Friday hearing, Oshiomhole, now representing Edo North Senatorial District, was present to support the APC’s candidate.

Also in attendance was Philip Shaibu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State, who recently switched allegiance from the PDP to the APC.

One of the key issues in the case is the evidence provided by INEC.

The tribunal had earlier admitted 148 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, which were used in the disputed election.

The petitioners had subpoenaed INEC to produce these devices, particularly from 133 polling units where the results were contested.

The machines were presented as part of the tribunal’s examination of alleged irregularities.

During the hearing, the PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, presented their 16th witness, Haruna Ibrahim, who worked as a polling unit agent during the election.

In his testimony, Ibrahim stated that while the election process was generally conducted in accordance with regulations, he observed some irregularities, including instances of over-voting.

He claimed that he immediately reported these anomalies to INEC officials at the polling unit but was not satisfied with their response.

The petitioners argue that INEC failed to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, and they insist that Okpebholo was not the rightful winner.

They contend that INEC did not properly handle accreditation and voting procedures, leading to discrepancies in the results.

Furthermore, they assert that Okpebholo did not obtain the highest number of lawful votes cast, citing irregularities in several polling units.

As the case progresses, INEC’s role in the election remains central to the tribunal’s deliberations.

The petitioners are relying on evidence from INEC’s BVAS machines and other electoral materials to support their claims of non-compliance.

Meanwhile, the APC and Okpebholo’s legal team maintain that INEC conducted the election transparently and that the results declared were legitimate.

The tribunal will continue hearing testimonies and reviewing evidence presented by INEC and other parties involved in the case.

Observers believe that the outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for electoral processes and governance in Edo State.

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