Edo Election Tribunal: Counsel Absence Forces Adjournment to January 15
By Reporter
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal resumed on January 13, 2025 but was unexpectedly adjourned, following an application by the 1st and 2nd respondents—the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The respondents legal team while citing “a conflicting Supreme Court hearing, that was scheduled for January 14, 2025 in Abuja, requested a postponement of proceedings to Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
The Tribunal Secretary read the letter of adjournment that had earlier been submitted by the respondents and it reads: “The application for adjournment is premised on the fact that the counsel for the 2nd respondent has a matter scheduled at the Supreme Court on January 14, 2025.
“We kindly request the indulgence of this honourable tribunal and confirm that all counsels and parties involved have been duly served via email and WhatsApp.
“On behalf of the petitioners, we were prepared to commence trial tomorrow, January 14, 2025. However, the letter for adjournment was submitted late and did not include a hearing notice for the Supreme Court matter referenced.”
In response, counsel for the petitioners acknowledged receipt of the letter but raised concerns about its timing and lack of accompanying documentation.
“Nevertheless, in the spirit of cooperation and fairness, we reluctantly concede to the request on the condition that no further adjournment requests will be made by the respondents in the interest of justice and equity,” the counsel said.
In the circumstance and noting the mutuality of agreement of all parties, the tribunal granted the application for adjournment. The case was adjourned to January 15, 2025.
The tribunal has seven petitions before it challenging INEC’s declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo as winner of the September 21 governorship election.
The petitions listed for trial include suit number EPT/ED/GOV/01/2024: Accord Party vs. INEC, Okpebholo, and APC; Suit EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024: PDP and Ighodalo vs. INEC, Okpebholo, and APC. Other suits involve Alliance Party, SDP, Allied Peoples Movement, ADP, and Zenith Labour Party against INEC, Okpebholo, and APC.
At the last hearing, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, disclosed that parties agreed to call 290 witnesses and explained the time frame for the examination of witnesses and how the hearing would run. The parties agreed to call a total of 290 witnesses.
According to the report presented by the chairman, the timeframe allocated for the examination of witnesses, is 40 minutes for examination-in-chief for each star witness, 30 minutes for cross-examination by the petitioners, and 20 minutes for cross-examination by each respondent.
Also, 10 minutes was allocated for re-examination of each star witness and 25 minutes for examination-in-chief for other ordinary witnesses.
The duration for the legal battle has equally been defined as petitioners are expected to call their witnesses within 21 days or less, while respondents will have 10 days each to call their witnesses.
According to INEC, Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating the PDP’s Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes.
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