Politics
Edo Guber Tribunal: INEC fails to present witness
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has closed its case before the Edo State governorship election tribunal without presenting a witness.
INEC’s legal counsel formally moved to close its case without presenting any witnesses— a motion accepted by the Tribunal.
The Commission would be relying solely on cross-examinations and arguments from the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Governor Monday Okpebholo’s lawyers.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had first mounted a challenge to the election results, accusing INEC of orchestrating widespread irregularities and vote manipulation.
Leveraging the 2022 Electoral Act, the PDP’s legal team focused heavily on documentary evidence rather than oral testimony.
Key provisions of the Act— such as Section 137, which prioritizes documentary evidence over oral testimony, and Section 73(2), which mandates the nullification of results in polling units where ballot paper and BVAS serial numbers were not pre-recorded, form the crux of the PDP’s petition.
The Tribunal has already admitted critical BVAS machines into evidence.
Testimonies from PDP witnesses, including local government agents and an expert witness (PW12), detailed systemic manipulation during result collation.
Recall that the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja had on Wednesday adjourned further proceedings till today, February 6, at the instance of the INEC, whose five witnesses were not in court.
INEC was billed to begin its defense on the conduct of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial poll but came to the Tribunal with information that its witnesses have been held up.
Counsel to the electoral body, Abdullahi Aliyu, informed the Tribunal that the five listed witnesses were held up on their trip from Benin City and opted to tender three documents in order to make a semblance of progress in the day’s proceedings.
A former lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the party’s inability to rescue Nigeria from what he described as “prevailing political cankerworms”.
Melaye, a former senator for Kogi West, made this known today via a post on his official X handle, where he shared a signed resignation letter addressed to the PDP chairman in Ward 1, Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
In the letter dated July 4, 2025, Melaye said the decision became “imperative due to the lack of potency and capacity by the party to deliver the Nigerian people from the prevailing political cankerworms that have eaten deeply into the fabric of our dear nation”.
The 2023 governorship candidate of the PDP stated that after careful reflection on the state of the party, he could no longer, in good conscience, participate in its activities or support its agenda.
“In view of the above, please consider this as my formal withdrawal from the party and all its activities at all levels with immediate effect,” the letter read.
Melaye also expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve under the PDP during his period of membership.
His resignation adds to the growing wave of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has suspended his Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, Felix Osemwengie Isere, for alleged unauthorised fundraising over an upcoming oil and has summit in the state.
The suspension was announced in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, on Tuesday in Benin.
The SSG said the governor also announced the immediate halt of the planned summit, scheduled to begin on August 7.
“Due to the breach, the proposed summit is suspended, and Isere is directed to refund all monies collected from donors for the event.
“Prospective donors are hereby advised to stop all dealings with the suspended adviser,” Ikhilor said.
(NAN)
Former Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), signaling a major political shift in Benue State.
In a letter addressed to the Atirkyese Council Ward Chairman in Benue State, Orhii explained that his decision followed wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders across different levels.
“After intensive consultations with my family, friends, thousands of my supporters and political associates locally, nationally and globally, I have decided to resign my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect,” he stated.
Dr. Orhii, who was a PDP governorship aspirant in both the 2019 and 2023 elections, added that his resignation would allow him to join the ADC’s national “rescue mission.”
“This is to enable me join the coalition of other progressive-minded Nigerians in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on the rescue mission,” he explained.
He expressed gratitude to the PDP for providing him a platform to serve the nation, particularly during his tenure as NAFDAC boss.
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