The Edo State governorship election tribunal has fixed March 3 for the adoption of final written addresses by parties after the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) closed its defence in the petition challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024 governorship election won by Governor Monday Okpegholo, its candidate, after presenting four witnesses.
Although the APC had listed 28 witnesses to defend its mandate, only four of them testified before the Justice Wilfred Kpochi- led three-member tribunal sitting in Abuja.
Governor Okpegholo’s victory is being challenged by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
Those who testified yesterday at the tribunal were Mr. Afuda Theophilus, a businessman, Engr. Gabriel Iduseri, an APC Collation agent for Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Kamarudeen Coker Bello, also the party’s collation agent in Akoko-Edo- LGA and Hon Frank David, who equally served as the APC coalition agent for Owan LGA of the State.
They had in their separate testimonies, given evidence to the credibility of the polls, admitting however that there were incidents of over-voting in some polling units, but that the results returned from the affected polling units were canceled and discarded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
During Thursday’s proceedings, APC’s lead counsel, Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), informed the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led panel that the party would no longer be calling more witnesses, citing the unavailability of key documents needed for their defence.
“Yesterday, we promised to present 28 witnesses. However, after a comprehensive review and considering that the documents are still in Benin, we have decided not to proceed with calling additional witnesses.
“My Lords, time is of the essence, and we do not want to waste the tribunal’s time. We are happy to close the third respondent’s case if it pleases your Lordships,” Orbih said.
Responding, counsel to the respondents did not raise objection to the APC’s decision to close its case.
Consequently, the tribunal formally closed the defence and adjourned proceedings until March 3.
It ordered all parties to timely file and respond to their final written addresses before their adoption on the scheduled date.
