Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
Stunning allegations of electoral fraud continue to emerge at the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, as witnesses recount irregularities that allegedly marred the September 21 governorship election.
Truth Live News confirms that during Thursday’s hearing on January 23, 2025, a key witness and Local Government Area (LGA) Collation Agent for Esan North East gave a detailed account of how election results were manipulated.
The witness accused officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of altering Polling Unit results at the Ward Collation level in collaboration with agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The testimony revealed that INEC Ward Collation officials bypassed the legally mandated process of verifying discrepancies through the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IREV). Instead, they allegedly recalculated results without consulting the electronic records or obtaining the necessary endorsements from Presiding Officers on Form EC8b, as required by the Electoral Act 2022.
This act, the witness argued, contravened INEC’s Manual and Guidelines for the Conduct of Governorship Elections, which stipulate that discrepancies must be resolved by identifying the error, cross-referencing it with the electronic results, and ensuring that the Presiding Officer approves the resolution.
The revelations are adding to the mounting controversy surrounding the election results, which declared APC’s candidate victorious amidst protests from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal has promised to scrutinize all testimonies and evidence presented as the proceedings continue.
Stay tuned to Truth Live News for the latest updates on this unfolding story.