The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Monday, adjourned proceedings to Tuesday, in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the September 21, 2024, election.
The adjournment followed delays in serving the respondents with the petitioners’ witness schedule.
When the petition was called, counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission, the state governor, Monday Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress, represented by Kanu Agabi, Onyeachi Ikpeazu and Emmanuel Ukala, objected to the petitioners’ attempt to field witnesses during the proceedings.
The respondents’ counsels argued that they received the petitioners’ witness schedule only minutes before the hearing, which left them unprepared for cross-examinations.
Ukala said, “In view of the Tribunal’s directives on Saturday and the agreement reached by all parties that the witness schedule list should be exchanged at least a day before witnesses are called, we expected the schedule to be served on Sunday through electronic or other means. However, this was not done.
“We did not receive the list until about 9:50 a.m., just before the hearing resumed this morning. Our understanding of the Tribunal’s directives and the consensus reached by the parties is that no party should be taken by surprise. This purpose is clearly defeated when the witness list is served mere minutes before proceedings begin.
“In these circumstances, the petitioners, by their own actions, have made today’s proceedings impossible. We are ready to continue tomorrow.”
Aligning with Ukala’s position, Agabi stated, “We are in the same predicament, my Lord. Our duty is to assist Your Lordship in reaching a fair decision, but we cannot do so under these circumstances.” Ikpeazu also adopted the same stance.
In defence, counsel for the petitioners, Adetunji Oyeyipo, explained that the delay in serving the respondents was caused by alleged threats to their witnesses.
“My Lord, we did not deliberately delay the circulation of the witness list. The situation we found ourselves in up to Sunday evening necessitated the delay. The state APC Chairman made a broadcast on television, which we have on tape, where he threatened to apprehend our witnesses and PDP supporters within the court premises.
“He specifically said they would be arrested if they showed up today. We sent this video to counsel for the 3rd respondent but received no assurance of safety or security for our witnesses.
“We urge the Tribunal to reject their application for adjournment and allow us to proceed with our witnesses. After all, they are only eight in number,” Oyeyipo submitted.
In his ruling, Tribunal Chairman Justice Wilfred Kpochi upheld the respondents’ arguments, stating that they needed adequate time to prepare for cross-examination.
The hearing was adjourned to Tuesday.
Punch
