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Overvoting: You’re chasing shadows, Okpebholor’s camp replies PDP
Nothing outside huge disappointment will come out of the current noise by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that they have finally nailed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Monday Okpebholor at the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal over the testimonies of witnesses.
Members of the PDP, the former ruling party in the state, have been upbeat since last week, either following the absence of witnesses from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to call witnesses to testify to the results it claimed to have emanated from the September 21 governorship election, or Monday’s abrupt closure of the governor’s case after calling one witness, who testified that there was overvoting in a part of the local government.
Ifaluyi Isibor, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), applauded who applauded the governor’s witness for his honesty, stated that his testimony had further exposed flaws in the election process.
His words: “I must commend the witness for refusing to lie under oath. He could have tried to cover it up, but instead, he told the truth: there was over-voting in Ovia South-West. That is a direct confirmation that the election was flawed.”
Assailing the governor for closing his case prematurely, he said: “With Senator Okpebholo closing his case after just one witness—just like INEC before him—it is clear they have no defence for the heist they committed. If they had any credible argument, they would have brought it forward. Instead, they have chosen silence, which in itself is an admission,” he added.
But Dennis Idahosa, Edo State Deputy Governor, in a quick riposte, dismissed the PDP’s enthusiasm, saying it went into no issue, while insisting that their entire petition was actually a waste of time, adding the results from areas affected by over-voting were already cancelled.
Hear him: “I have refused to comment on the proceeding of the tribunal before now. But today, I feel I have to address some wrong claims being made by the Peoples Democratic Party because the area contesting the result is my constituency.
“In Unit 4, Ward 7, Usen, the results were cancelled due to over-voting, as required by law. Yet, PDP petitioned against these results without knowing they were never included in the form EC8A for the unit results and form EC8B for the ward.”
Arguing the APC witness only confirmed in court that cancelled results were not computed, he added: “Why will the PDP challenge results that do not exist? It shows they do not understand the process. The Electoral Act 2020 (as amended) clearly states that over-voting leads to automatic result cancellation, eliminating the need for further disputes.
“The onus is on PDP to prove their case, but their witnesses have contradicted themselves in court. Our legal team may not even need to call any witness. The PDP is treating the tribunal like a media campaign, rather than focusing on legal facts. The PDP.
“I am here to clarify those facts, to let the world know that those units/wards that the PDP petitioned in Ovia and in other places in the state have been cancelled due to over voting. So it did not reflect in the overall result.”
“It demonstrates, in the clearest possible terms, that when citizens act with unity, clarity of purpose, and resolve, they can indeed move mountains.”
These were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reacted to Tuesday’s agreement of the 10th Senate to reverse the controversial provisions in the Electoral Amendment Bill, in which they earlier retained the discretionary provision of transmission of results of election electronically by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the coalition party, attributing the U-turn to the resilience of Nigerians, described the development as a victory for democracy and people-powered civic action.
Abdullahi, a former Minister, who called on Nigerians to stay alert and continue mounting pressure on relevant authorities until the amended bill secures presidential assent, is duly gazetted, and takes full legal effect, urged Nigerians to maintain eternal vigilance.
Following a groundswell of outrage across the country, regarding its initial decision to retain the 2022 provision and subsequent protests, which saw Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 and Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor Rivers State, teaming up with a group of Nigerians on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, the Senate eventually bowed to pressure mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit elections to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), real time, but with a proviso to use manual collation only as a contingency in cases of technological failure.
Hailing the development, ADC stated that the recant by the lawmakers was beyond a simple legislative reversal, but a reflection of the resilience, alertness, and growing political awareness of Nigerians from all segments of society.
The statement, added: “The decision of the 10th Senate to urgently reverse the contentious provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill that it passed is a significant victory for the Nigerian people.
“This outcome is not merely a legislative U-turn. It is a testament to the resilience, vigilance, and rising political consciousness of Nigerians across all walks of life. From street protests to digital campaigns, the Nigerian people have once again shown that sovereignty truly belongs to them.
“In the face of the ruling APC’s habitual disregard for due process and democratic values, the Nigerian people have reaffirmed their place as the ultimate custodians of our democracy.
“In this regard, the African Democratic Congress salutes the courage and tenacity of Nigerians. We commend every citizen who raised their voice, whether online or offline, to resist legislative mischief that threatened to undermine our electoral integrity.”
Calling on Nigerians to remain steadfast, stressing that the development represents only a step in the right direction, not the final victory, the party, added: “We must now ensure that this momentum is sustained until the amended bill is not only passed but duly assented to by the President, properly gazetted, and becomes an enforceable law of the Federal Republic.
“We must remain vigilant to ensure there are no last-minute betrayals or technical ambiguities, the kind that often lead to ‘stories that touch.’ Let this be a reminder that democracy does not thrive in silence or indifference. It demands participation, persistence, and sometimes, peaceful defiance.”
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has once again intervened to stem the political schism between the Rivers State House of Assembly and Siminalayi Fubara, the governor that would have led to the latter’s impeachment.
But the Minister, left a caveat – this is the last time the President would be making such an intervention – as he added that both sides would now have to work according to the terms agreed at the parley.
In the latest faceoff which started early in the year, 27 members of the assembly said to be loyal to Wike, had launched a fresh impeachment move against the governor – the third since he took office in 2023, accusing him of sundry infractions of the constitution including spending money without appropriation.
Fubara, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), last year, was believed to have run to the President for succour, whose intervention is believed to have halted the move.
Giving details of the rapprochement, Wike told reporters in Abuja, on Tuesday that the President playing a fatherly role stepped in to resolve disputes between the two parties.
His words: “He is very kind to the people of the state. If there seems to be any problem between the legislature and the governor, as a father, he really has to intervene.
“This is the second time Mr President is intervening and I believe by the grace of God that this will be the last time Mr President will intervene.”
Wike, who has since been linked to the crises from the outset and in firm grips of the lawmakers, also pointed out his own role in the matter, saying: “I have told them to obey Mr President and I know that they would not hesitate.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday finally sent the name of Usman Isa Dakingari, former Governor of Kebbi State to the Senate for confirmation as as a non-career ambassador after last month’s embarrassing mix-up in which his name suddenly appeared for posting to Turkey without legislative clearance.
Tinubu, in a correspondence conveying the appointment, which was read by Godswill Akpabio, said: “I write for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Usman Isa Dakingari as non-career ambassador,.
“Whilst I hope that the senate will consider and confirm the nominee expeditiously, please accept, distinguished senate president, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
After reading the letter at plenary, the Senate President, said the matter would be referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration and report back to the Committee of Whole within one week.
Electoral Act: Don’t go to sleep, maintain eternal vigilance, ADC tells Nigerians
This is the last time Tinubu will intervene in Rivers’ row – Wike
Tinubu finally sends Dakingari’s name to Senate after ambassadorial posting row
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