Edo Gov’ship Election Tribunal Kicks Off, Steps Down PDP Petition for Documentation

By Reporter

The Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal three-man panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi commenced hearing on the petitions challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Edo State 2024 governorship election.

Seven petitions were filed by Mr. Asue Ighodalo; the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Accord Party (AP); Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Action Democratic Party (ADP); Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

At yesterday’s hearing, Ken Mozia, SAN, held the brief of the petitioners’ Lead Counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, and he told the court that his clients were ready to tender the carefully arranged documents which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) used in the conduct of the election.

He informed the tribunal that the documents to be tendered from the bar had been arranged serially to make the entire process seamless for the parties before the court to understand.

Counsel to respondents, Governor Monday Okpebholo; All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC, opposed the petitioner’s submission. Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, Emmanuel Ukala SAN, and Kanu Agabi, SAN, argued that the documents should have been filed before admitting same as evidence.

The tribunal subsequently directed the parties to begin verifying documents submitted by the petitioners and ordered each party to nominate two representatives for immediate document verification.

The case, EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, involving Ighodalo Asuerinme and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others was therefore adjourned to January 17, 2025.

The hearing of the petition of the candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Bright Enabulele. His Counsel, J.A. Dagher, opened his case with the presentation of three witnesses in support of his petition.

Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1), Mr. Zakaria Wisdom Yahaya, adopted his witness statement and prayed the court to rely on it in support of the petitioner’s case.

Yahaya, in his statement on oath, told the court that the conduct of the poll in his Polling Unit 28, Ward 8, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, where he functioned as polling unit agent for his party (AC), was marred by irregularities, including ballot stuffing.

When cross-examined by counsel to the 1st to 3rd Respondents (Governor Okpebholo, APC, and INEC), Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, and Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, respectively, the PW1 told the court that he also functioned as Ward Agent for his party.

Another witness, Daisy Nwachuku, also testified before the court and said she functioned as polling unit agent in Oredo Unit 9, Ward 3.

When asked if she was given an agent card by INEC to function in the election, the witness answered in the negative.

Also testifying, 70-year-old PW3, Victoria Ogbebor, stated in her witness statement that she acted as a unit agent in Unit 32 for her party in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area during the election.

When asked by Aliyu if she knew one Dr. Bright Enabulele (AP candidate in the election), the witness said that she may know the name.

The case was, however, adjourned to Thursday (today) for the continuation of the hearing.

Read Also: Edo Guber Tribunal: Parties To Call 290 Witnesses