The All Progressives Congress (APC) has closed its defence in the ongoing hearing of the petition filed at the Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, challenged its victory in the September 21, 2024, election.
The party, as the third respondent in the petition, concluded its case after presenting four witnesses who testified to validate its claim of victory in the election.
During Thursday’s proceedings, APC’s counsel, Mr. Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), told the tribunal that his client was resting its case, having presented a substantial body of evidence, including documents, petitioners’ cross-examination testimony, and the third respondent’s evidence.
He, however, said calling further witnesses was unnecessary.
“Taking all the enumerated factors into consideration, we are happy at this stage to close the 3rd respondent’s case, with the leave of my Lordships,” he told the tribunal.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi, having received no objections from the petitioners, approved the request and scheduled March 3 for the parties to submit their final written arguments.
The three-member panel granted the respondents a seven-day deadline to file and serve their processes.
The petitioners were ordered to respond within five days of receiving the processes, with the respondents allowed an additional three days to reply to points of law.
Persecondnews had reported that the tribunal had adjourned proceedings on Wednesday to enable the APC tender some documents which it claimed its remaining witnesses would rely on in giving their evidence.
The party initially informed the tribunal that it intended to call 28 witnesses to defend its victory in the Edo governorship election.
Persecondnews recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Gov. Monday Okpebholo of the APC the winner of the election.
Dissatisfied with this outcome, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, petitioned the tribunal to nullify INEC’s declaration of the APC and Okpebholo as winners.
They argued that the governorship election was invalid due to alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act’s provisions.
In the petition, EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, they also claimed that Okpebholo didn’t receive the highest number of lawful votes cast in the election.
The petitioners presented 19 witnesses to testify that over-voting and incorrect vote computation occurred in more than 700 polling units during the election.
INEC, the first respondent, opted not to call any witnesses, instead submitted 153 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used in 133 disputed polling units as evidence.
Okpebholo, the 2nd respondent, presented just a witness in his defence, whereas the APC called four witnesses to testify on their behalf.
The petitioners and respondents are scheduled to adopt their final written addresses on March 3, after which the tribunal will set a date for judgment.
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