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In a stunning development at the Edo 2024 Governorship Election Tribunal in Abuja, a 61-year-old witness for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Muitaru Yusuf, may face major legal penalties after being accused of lying under oath.

This occurred during the tribunal’s sessions on Friday, when Mr. Yusuf’s credibility was brought into question during cross-examination by Barr. Ferdinand Orbih, counsel for Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo.

Mr. Yusuf initially claimed that his October 11, 2024 statement was based on screenshots of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) results. However, it was discovered that the PDP only obtained certified accurate copies of these results on January 8, 2025, much after his assertions were made.

This contradiction suggested that Mr. Yusuf gave fraudulent testimony because the evidence he cited did not exist at the time of his statement.

During the cross-examination, Barr. Orbih highlighted the inconsistencies in Mr. Yusuf’s testimony. When asked if he still supported his initial comments,

Mr. Yusuf withdrew his assertion, acknowledging that he had simply repeated what the PDP had directed him to say.

Lying under oath in a court of law is a serious offence in Nigeria, punishable under Section 118 of the Criminal Code, which carries a 14-year prison sentence. Perjury damages the integrity of legal procedures and jeopardises the authority of the judiciary.

As the tribunal considers the consequences of this disclosure, the scenario calls into question the legitimacy of the PDP’s whole appeal, as well as the authenticity of the claims made.

Political observers are now wondering how many more such comments were made without evidence, fuelled by the frustrations of a few party leaders who refuse to accept the election results.

The PDP, led by governorship candidate Asue Ighodaro, appears to be in a vulnerable situation.

Faced with charges of desperation and attempts to manipulate the legal system, they struggle to maintain their story in the face of accumulating evidence of probable misbehaviour.

Observers point out that this occurrence not only undermines the legitimacy of the PDP’s assertions, but also poses a grave threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic processes.

As the tribunal continues, the public stays alert to events, anxious to see the consequences for those who threaten the court system with falsehoods.

The tribunal’s proceedings continue as the PDP strives to traverse a difficult landscape in their effort to overturn Senator Monday Okpebholo’s and the All Progressives Congress’s electoral victory, which they won by a significant margin with the support of Edo voters.

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