Allegations of witness intimidation and threats ignited a clash between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday.
Persecondnews gathered that shortly after the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel began proceedings, Mr. Ken Mozia (SAN), lead counsel for the PDP and its candidate, alleged that witnesses scheduled to testify had received threats.
He noted that although the proposed witnesses’ names were coded using acronyms, their identities were still discernible based on the roles they played during the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
Mozia said: “My lord, we gave them (Respondents) the list of witnesses. But what they did to some of those witnesses was beyond imagination, to the extent that some of them are afraid to come and testify.”
He told the tribunal that he had previously brought to the attention of APC’s counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), the harassment the witnesses were facing.
However, his allegation was met with resistance from senior lawyers representing the respondents in the petition challenging Gov. Monday Okpebholo’s election.
Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), however, dismissed the allegation as baseless.
He said: “My Lord, this is unfortunate that my learned friend is involving us in this phantom allegation.”
Also, counsel for the APC, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala(SAN), swiftly dismissed the allegation, emphasizing that the petitioners were well aware of the necessary steps to take if their witnesses faced any threats.
He said: “My Lord, if there are criminal activities going on, they know what to do and who to meet.
“It is not for them to come here to make blanket statements.”
Still maintaining his position, Mozia said: “My Lord, I had earlier approached him (Ukala) and I even sent him videos of the alleged threats to our witness.
“To say that it is not real or phantom, my lord that is not fair.”
Ukala insisted: “My Lord the video he shared with me had nothing to do with list of witnesses. By then, the schedule of witnesses was not even filed.
“I gave him the assurances that I gave him when he showed the videos to me, and since then, he has not brought any issue to my attention.”
To avoid being drawn into the dispute, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Kpochi, advised the petitioners to provide the respondent with the list of witnesses in advance.
He said: “My appeal is that you give them list of witnesses that are prepared for the next day.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Eseigbe Victor, the Ward Agent of the PDP in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, has taken the witness stand to testify on behalf of the petitioners.
Persecondnews recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Okpebholo of the APC the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Ighodalo of the PDP, who secured 247,274 votes.
The PDP and its candidate challenged the election outcome, seeking the tribunal’s intervention to overturn INEC’s declaration of the APC and Okpebholo as winners.
The petitioners argued that the governorship election was invalid due to alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
They alleged in their petition, marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, that Gov. Okpebholo of the APC failed to secure the highest number of lawful votes cast in the election, contesting the legitimacy of his victory.
Meanwhile, the tribunal released a notice on January 25, announcing the relocation of its sitting from Benin City to Abuja.
The notice stated that the tribunal will sit at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, effective Monday, January 27, 2025.
Even though the notice didn’t specify the reasons for the relocation, Persecondnews recalls a recent incident where gunshots fired near the Edo High Court Complex, venue of the sitting, caused chaos on Wednesday, January 15.
Armed security personnel responded swiftly, restoring calm and allowing the tribunal to proceed without interruption.
Details later…
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