The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday adjourned proceedings to Tuesday in the case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
The adjournment followed delays in serving the respondents with the petitioners’ witness schedule, which disrupted the planned proceedings.
When the case was called, counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), represented by Kanu Agabi, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, and Emmanuel Ukala, objected to the petitioners’ attempt to present witnesses.
The respondents’ counsels argued that they received the petitioners’ witness schedule only minutes before the hearing, leaving them unprepared for cross-examinations.
Ukala noted that the Tribunal had previously directed parties to exchange witness schedules at least a day before witnesses were called, an agreement reached by all parties. He emphasized that serving the schedule shortly before the hearing contravened the Tribunal’s directive and undermined fairness.
“In view of the Tribunal’s directives on Saturday and the agreement reached by all parties, we expected the schedule to be served on Sunday via electronic or other means. This was not done,” Ukala said.
“We received the list around 9:50 a.m., just before today’s hearing began. The purpose of the Tribunal’s directives was to ensure no party is taken by surprise. That purpose is defeated when the list is served mere minutes before proceedings start. Under these circumstances, today’s proceedings are impossible. We are ready to continue tomorrow,” he added.
Aligning with Ukala, Agabi and Ikpeazu also stressed that the delay hindered their ability to effectively assist the Tribunal in reaching a fair decision.
In response, counsel for the petitioners, Adetunji Oyeyipo, attributed the delay to alleged threats against their witnesses.
“My Lord, the delay in serving the witness schedule was not deliberate. On Sunday evening, the state APC Chairman made a televised broadcast, which we have on tape, threatening to apprehend our witnesses and PDP supporters within the court premises,” Oyeyipo explained.
“We shared this video with counsel for the third respondent but received no assurance of safety for our witnesses. Despite these circumstances, we are ready to proceed with our eight witnesses,” he argued, urging the Tribunal to reject the application for adjournment.
However, Tribunal Chairman Justice Wilfred Kpochi upheld the respondents’ position, ruling that adequate preparation time for cross-examination was necessary for a fair hearing.
The hearing was subsequently adjourned to Tuesday.
Comments