Edo vote recount: Results show disparities

Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City - 30.11.2007

Results of the recounting of ballot papers used in April governorship election in Edo State have indicated disparities in the figures returned on the result sheet for the entire state and the recounted ones.

The recounting of the ballot papers, which was ordered by the state election petition tribunal last week, was in respect of 12 out of the 18 local government areas being contested by the Action Congress (AC) in the state.

Evidence to this effect came to the fore at the resumed hearing of the tribunal in the petition which the AC governorship candidate, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, brought against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Oserheimen Osunbor and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday.

Led in evidence by Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), counsel for Oshiomhole, INEC’s Head of Operations in the state, Mr. Olawale Kayode, read out results recorded in the election for the 12 local government areas on Exhibit 70, which was the result for the entire state and Exhibit 105, which was the result from the recounted ballots.