Edo Election Tribunal Admits INEC Evidence, as Ighodalo Makes Sudden Appearance

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By Reporter

The Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, today February 5, continued continued the hearing of the Edo State governorship election petitions at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formally opening its defence in the petition marked: EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, by tendering three documents for admission as evidence.

INEC through its lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, tendered three documents: Form EC8D (the collation sheet of results at state level); the Certified True Copies (CTC) of result sheet; and the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022. They were all admitted in evidence as Exhibit R1, R2, and R3. The petitioners and other respondents did not oppose their admittance.

Addressing the tribunal INEC’s lawyer said: “To open our defence, we seek your kind permission to tender some documents today and bring our witnesses tomorrow.”

After admitting the documents, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, asked INEC to present its witnesses to testify but INEC pleaded for it’s witnesses up on Thursday 6 February, because its witnesses were on their way from Benin City, Edo State.

It added that although they were allocated 10 days during the pre-trial hearing, which marked its first day, today. It concluded that it does not intend to even use the whole 10 days as it could close its case tomorrow, Thursday.

Justice Kpochi subsequently adjourned the petition to tomorrow, Thursday, for the continuation of defence by the 1st respondent.

The sudden appearance of the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo in the tribunal, with a retinue of former government appointees, party leaders, chieftains, loyalists and members, caused frenzy, especially amongst members of the press.

The hope of interviewing him after the hearing was dashed as Ighodalo quietly walked away without speaking to anyone.

Responding in an interview, Edo APC Chairman, Emperor Jarette Tenebe, said: “It does not need a rocket science to tell anybody where this petition is going. Ighodalo has no case.”

The candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state governorship election, Asuerinme Akintunde Ighodalo, had filed the petition to challenge the victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The INEC is the 1st respondent; Governor Okpebholo is the 2nd respondent; the APC is the 3rd respondent.