The Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal has adjourned hearing to January 22, 2025, for the continuation of proceedings in the case EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, Ighodalo Asuerinme & Anor. v. INEC & Ors., following the testimony of the petitioners’ third witness (PW3), Mr. Aroye Lucky Issekwa.
Mr. Issekwa, who is a 54-year-old farmer from Uhonmora, Owan West Local Government Area, admitted under cross-examination that he was neither a polling unit agent nor a ward agent. Instead, he based his testimony on reports received from polling unit agents.
During his examination-in-chief, he confirmed signing his witness statement on oath at the tribunal registry on November 11, 2024. He also requested the court to adopt his statement as evidence.
He highlighted failures in seven polling units where sensitive materials were not properly recorded, as mandated by INEC guidelines.
The petitioner’s counsel sought to tender these documents, but the respondents objected and reserved their arguments for their final written address.
Under cross-examination, the respondents’ counsel questioned Mr. Issekwa on unsigned results. He acknowledged discrepancies but was unable to specify the number of unsigned result sheets without consulting the relevant documents.
The respondent’s counsel further interrogated the methodology he used to compute alleged cases of over-voting. Mr. Issekwa admitted relying on the BVAS report rather than the BVAS machines themselves.
He was later directed to review specific exhibition.
