The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within the 2024 Edo State governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has opened his case with the tendering of paperwork used within the election in assist of his petition.
Ighodalo alongside his social gathering, the PDP, in a petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, are contesting INEC’s declaration of Monday Okpebholo as winner of the election.
The PDP candidate claimed that the election was marred by widespread irregularities culminating to the electoral umpire declaring the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the ballot.
Ighodalo averred that he scored the best legitimate votes solid and puzzled why INEC would declare Okpebholo winner regardless of non compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.
On the resumption of listening to yesterday, the lead counsel to the petitioners, Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), tendered from the bar the Licensed True Copy (CTC) of Kind EC8E (INEC last declaration outcome sheet of the ballot) in assist of the petitioners’ circumstances.
Kenneth Mozia, who performed the shows on the occasion of Oyeyipo, additionally tendered CTC of Kind EC8D, (Abstract of outcomes from Native Authorities Areas Collation on the state Degree).
Paperwork additionally tendered earlier than the tribunal by counsel to the petitioners are Licensed True Copies of Kind EC8Cs, protecting the 18 Native Authorities Areas within the state.
Once more, CTC of Types EC8B (Wards Outcomes Sheets) used for the conduct of the election within the 192 Wards within the state have been additionally tendered by Mozia, all in assist of the petitioners circumstances.
The petitioners additional tendered in proof 320 Licensed True Copies of Kind EC8A paperwork (polling Models outcomes sheets),
Whereas presenting earlier than the court docket 318 CTCs of INEC’s Polling Models Booklets, every containing Kind EC25D, Mozia, once more, tendered in court docket 58 CTCs of Kind EC8A (IREV).
Nonetheless, lead counsel to INEC, Governor Monday Okpebholo and APC (1st to third respondents), Kanu Agabi, SAN, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, and D.C. Denwigwe, SAN, who held the temporary of Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the paperwork
The respondents counsel instructed the court docket that they might be abducing causes for his or her objections to the petitioners’ CTC paperwork on the last handle stage of the petition.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi led Tribunal in response provisionally admitted all of the paperwork tendered in proof and marked identical as reveals.
“Discovered counsel to the respondents shall state their causes for his or her objections on the handle stage”, Justice Kpochi held.
Listening to on the petition continues right now, Saturday, December 18, 2024 because the petitioners are anticipated to tender extra paperwork in assist of their petitions.
