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Edo Guber Tribunal: INEC fails to present witness

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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.

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JUST IN: Appeal Court Affirms Okphebholo as Edo Governor

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‎‎The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Monday Okphebholo as duly elected in the September 21, 2024 Edo Governorship polls, as it affirms the decision of the Tribunal which on April 2 dismissed the petition of Asue Ighodalo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for lacking merit. ‎‎

A three-man panel of the Appeal court, presided over by Justice Mohamed Danjuma, restated the position of the Tribunal which held that the PDP failed to provide sufficient and credible evidence to substantiate their claims of electoral malpractice, irregularities, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.‎‎

The panel held that the PDP failed to provide sufficient and credible evidence to substantiate their claims of electoral malpractice, irregularities, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. ‎‎

The Appellate Court agrees with the Tribunal that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) Machines which the appellants tendered were merely ‘dumped’ as they weren’t demonstrated to prove overvoting.

‎‎This the Court held after it earlier expunged the 133 BVAS machines admitted in evidence at the Tribunal stage of the Governorship tussle. ‎‎

Ighodalo and the PDP were further faulted by the Appellate Court for failing to tender the voter register to prove overvoting.

The Court further adds that BVAS extract doesn’t constitute items with which to prove overvoting. ‎‎It says the documents tendered by the PDP at the Tribunal did not, on their own, prove overvoting, non-holding or cancellation of elections at the polling units.

‎‎To further puncture the case of the PDP, the panel says the 19 witnesses called by the appellants during the Tribunal hearing didn’t help their case.

It says the majority of them did not witness what they spoke about. Moreso, it adds they were insufficient to prove irregularities in polling stations at over 4,000 locations.

‎‎Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, against Asue Ighodalo of the PDP who garnered 247,274 votes.

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Betta Edu Congratulates President Tinubu On His Two Years In Office

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The former Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. former, Dr Betta Edu, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his Two Years in Office.

Edu, who joined millions of Nigerians and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC to heartily congratulate the president on his second year in office as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria said the president has been a true father to all.

Her statement reads: Mr. President, Father of the nation.

I join millions of Nigerians and members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC to heartily congratulate you on your second year in office as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Despite the obvious challenges, your dedication to transforming Nigeria and changing the economic landscape by improving the lives of the citizens in the long run is visible, even to the greatest critics.

It’s has not been an easy ride navigating terrains that even lions won’t dare! Your commitment to hard work and a result oriented leadership is unprecedented.

The focus of your administration on economic rejuvenation is evidently changing the narrative and Nigerians are witnessing the positive impacts, including infrastructural development, education for all, affordable housing, huge improvement in the security situation among others, in just two years.

These positive developments underscore the renewed hope agenda of your administration.

Your Excellency, this was the toughest two years of your four + four years journey leading our nation.

The right foundation has been laid; it’s time for the fruits to blossom.

Forward forever, Nigeria will experience a rebirth, under your dynamic and visionary leader, A Lion is never distracted by the bleats of goats.

Mr. President keeps raising the bar….her statement reads.

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Hon. Comrade Asefon Praises Tinubu for approving Monthly Stipend for Technical College Students Nationwide

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The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Hon. Comrade Asefon Sunday, has expressed profound gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the historic approval of a N45,000 monthly stipend for students enrolled in technical colleges across Nigeria.

In a statement released on Wednesday by his office, Hon. Asefon described the approval as a landmark moment in the history of student welfare in Nigeria.

He noted that the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Tinubu administration to empower youth through technical and vocational education, with a total grant of N120 billion allocated under the new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) scheme.

“This remarkable gesture once again reaffirms President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to education as a cornerstone of national growth and development,” Hon. Asefon stated.

“His Excellency has demonstrated, through this initiative, his belief in skills-based education and his identity as a truly student-friendly President.”

He further emphasized that the N45,000 monthly stipend is a grant, not a loan, and thus does not require repayment, making it a life-changing opportunity for countless students and their families.

“Today marks a memorable milestone in the hearts of Nigerian students. This grant stands as a testament to President Tinubu’s unmatched generosity and vision for an inclusive educational future.

It is yet another reason why Nigerian students continue to stand solidly with Mr. President,” Asefon added.

He also extended appreciation to the Federal Ministries of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Education, along with all stakeholders who played critical roles in facilitating this initiative.

“I must commend the collaborative efforts of all those who helped bridge the gap between the student community and the Presidency. Your contributions are deeply appreciated.”

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