- Okpebholo to open defence Monday
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday failed to call witness in support of its case in the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the election.
INEC lawyer, Abdullahi Aliyu (SAN), had on Wednesday pledged to begin calling witnesses from Thursday after tendering documents, including results of the election, a certified true copy (CTC) of the declaration of the results and a copy of INEC’s Regulations & Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022.
Aliyu also told the tribunal that his client planned to call five scheduled witnesses within five days, as against the 10 days earlier allocated to it.
He said most of the witnesses would be coming from Benin, Edo State, to testify at the tribunal.
At the resumed sitting of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal yesterday, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN), who spoke for INEC, said his client did not intend to call any witness.
Agabi said: “My lords, after we left you yesterday (Wednesday), we gave more thought to the matter and came to the conclusion that the sensible thing to do is to close the case of the first respondent, which we hereby do.”
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Lawyer to the PDP and Ighodalo, Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), said he was not surprised about INEC’s decision not to call witnesses.
Oyeyipo said: “Frankly speaking, we are not surprised and it is well within the right of the first respondent to show such a good discretion. We are not objecting.”
Lawyers to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and lawyer to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Donald Dewigwe (SAN), said they were not opposed to INEC’s decision.
Ikpeazu subsequently requested the tribunal to allow his client open his case on Monday, a request the tribunal acceded to and adjourned till Monday.