The credibility of the Edo State governorship election was called into question on Wednesday as the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s key witness, Afuda Theophilus, admitted to instances of over-voting and lapses in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s procedures.
Testifying before the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Theophilus, who had been presented by the APC to defend the integrity of the election, made a startling concession under cross-examination.
While his sworn witness statement claimed there were no cases of over-voting, he was forced to acknowledge discrepancies when confronted with official polling unit results from Esan North East Local Government Area. He admitted that the total number of votes cast exceeded the number of accredited voters.
Further scrutiny of election documentation revealed additional irregularities. When questioned about Form EC25B—an INEC-prescribed document for recording the serial numbers of sensitive election materials—Theophilus initially confirmed its necessity.
However, upon examining the actual forms used during the election, he was unable to find any serial numbers, signatures, or identifying details recorded on them.
Pressed to confirm whether these entries were missing, Theophilus conceded their absence, adding to concerns over INEC’s compliance with electoral guidelines.
The revelations sparked strong reactions from the opposition. Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, speaking on behalf of the opposition’s legal team, argued that the failure to complete Form EC25B amounted to a clear violation of electoral regulations.
He maintained that such non-compliance could invalidate results from the affected polling units.
With its own witness inadvertently reinforcing the opposition’s case, the APC’s defense has been placed in a precarious position.
The tribunal’s eventual ruling on these revelations could have far-reaching implications for the outcome of the Edo governorship election.
