The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate for the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, on Wednesday, presented three additional witnesses in their ongoing legal battle to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The petitioners commenced their case on Tuesday by calling three witnesses from Ikpoba-Okha, Akoko-Edo, and Owan West Local Government Areas, who alleged electoral irregularities and malpractices.

Continuing their case before the three-man tribunal led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi on Wednesday, the PDP and Ighodalo presented three more witnesses, who also claimed that the election was marred by widespread irregularities.

One of the witnesses, Destiny Enabulele, while being led in evidence by the petitioners’ counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), stated that his witness statement on oath was based on firsthand observations and a careful examination of election documents.

“These are documents I personally examined carefully before arriving at my witness statement on oath. There was no prior recording of sensitive materials deployed by INEC to 19 polling units in Ovia South West Local Government Area,” Enabulele said.

When cross-examined by the respondent’s counsel, he admitted that he was only involved in the preparation of Form EC8C (Ward Collation Result) but not in the creation of other documents used to support his statement.

A dramatic moment occurred during the testimony of another witness, Babah Idenobhe, from Etsako West Local Government Area, who alleged over-voting in three polling units (021-023). However, discrepancies were noted in the certification of some documents he relied upon. It was revealed that while his witness statement on oath was sworn to on October 10, 2024, some of the supporting documents were certified by INEC on January 8, 2025—raising questions about their validity.

Additionally, Moses Agbukor, from Etsako East Local Government Area, who served as the PDP Collation Agent for the LGA, also alleged over-voting.

During proceedings, Agbukor sought to submit his party’s Ward Collation Agent Tag along with his witness statement on oath as evidence. However, INEC’s counsel, Kalu Agabi (SAN), Governor Okpebholo’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and APC’s counsel, Ukala (SAN), objected to the admissibility of the documents.

In his ruling, Justice Kpochi stated that the documents were provisionally admitted as evidence. The tribunal then adjourned the hearing to today (Thursday) for further proceedings.