Edo governorship election tribunal adjourns proceedings as INEC witnesses fail to appear

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has adjourned further proceedings to February 6, 2025, following a request from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose five scheduled witnesses failed to appear in court

INEC was initially set to commence its defense on the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election on February 5. However, when proceedings began, INEC’s counsel, Abdullahi Aliyu, informed the Tribunal that the five listed witnesses were delayed on their trip from Benin City and were unable to attend the hearing.

In a bid to make use of the day’s session, INEC opted to tender three key documents as evidence. The submitted documents included: Certified True Copies of the Collation of Results at the State Level (Form EC8D).

The Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections (2022)

Despite the absence of witnesses, INEC assured the Tribunal that it would require just one more day to conclude its defense and, therefore, applied for a short adjournment.

The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, expressed dissatisfaction with INEC’s handling of its defense, emphasizing that an entire day had been wasted due to the absence of witnesses.

However, INEC’s legal representatives countered that they still had ten days allocated for their defense and sufficient time to present their case.

READ ALSO: Police intensify manhunt for kidnap suspects, recover gun, ammunition in Edo

Adetunji Oyeyipo, counsel for Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, did not oppose INEC’s submission of the documents.

He noted that the documents presented were identical to those he had previously submitted to substantiate claims that the Edo governorship election was flawed.

Following the deliberations, the Tribunal adjourned proceedings to February 6, 2025, to allow INEC to present its witnesses and continue its defense.