The Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal adjourned its proceedings on Thursday until Monday, February 10, to enable Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to present his case.
The tribunal’s adjournment was prompted by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) failure to present its scheduled witnesses on Thursday, February 6, as planned.
INEC’s lead counsel, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Okpochi, that they would not be presenting any witnesses, a decision they made after careful consideration at the end of Wednesday’s proceedings.
According to Agabi, it would not be necessary to call any witnesses.
Persecondnews recalls that INEC, through its counsel, Mr. Abdullahi Aliyu (SAN), on Wednesday notified the tribunal that their five listed witnesses were delayed on their way from Benin City.
INEC proceeded to submit three documents which were subsequently accepted into evidence as exhibits R1, R2, and R3.
The electoral body submitted Certified True Copies of key documents, including the Collation of Result at the State level (Form EC8D), the Declaration of Results, and the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022.
Tribunal Chairman Justice Wilfred Kpochi criticized INEC’s approach, pointing out that their negligence has resulted in a “wasteful use of the court’s judicial time.”
Responding to the tribunal, INEC’s legal team stated that they had been allotted a 10-day timeline to present their defence, and they were confident that they had ample time to do so.
The case was adjourned until Thursday to enable the INEC to present its witnesses.
Details later…
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