Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, on Monday, called a lone witness to defend the result of the governorship election that held in the state on September 21, 2024, which the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared in his favour.
Okpebholo, who had earlier informed the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel that he would present about six witnesses, however closed his defence after his only witness, Mr. Usman Mark, was discharged.
In his testimony, Mark, who identified himself as a farmer, said he served as an agent of the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the election.
Answering questions under cross-examination, the witness, who had insisted that the APC won the election, however admitted that the number of votes that were recorded at Ovia South West Local Government Area of the state which was the stronghold of the incumbent Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, exceeded the number of those that were accredited to vote.
Shortly after he was discharged from the box, Governor Okpebholo's lead counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, told the tribunal that he would not call any other witness.
Consequently, the panel adjourned its proceeding till Wednesday to enable APC to open its defence.
It will be recalled that INEC had last Thursday, also closed its own defence of the gubernatorial poll without producing any witness to testify before the tribunal.
The Commission had declared that Okpebholo of the APC secured a total of 291, 667 votes to defeat his closet rivalry, Ighodalo of the PDP, who got a total of 247, 655 votes.
Aggrieved by the outcome of the poll, the PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal, praying it to nullify INEC's declaration of the APC and Okpebholo as winners of the contest.
The petitioners, among other things, contended that the governorship election was invalid by reason of alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.
They equally argued in the petition marked: EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, that governor Okpebholo of the APC did not secure the highest number of lawful votes that were cast at the election.
Satisfied with evidence of 19 witnesses that testified and tendered several documents in support of their case, the petitioners closed their case.
Earlier, INEC tendered before the tribunal, a total of 153 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVA, machines that were used in the 133 polling units where results of the election are disputed.
The electoral body equally tendered in evidence, a certified copy of the result of the governorship election.
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