From Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-man 2024 Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal (EPT) commenced hearings on the seven petitions challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2024 Edo State Governorship Election.
The petitions were filed by Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the PDP, Accord Party (AP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
When the PDP petition was called for hearing, Ken Mozia, SAN, who held the brief of the petitioners’ Lead Counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, told the court that his clients were ready to tender carefully arranged documents used in the conduct of the election.
He said the document set to be tendered from the bar had been arranged very well to make the entire process seamless for the parties before the court.
But opposing the submission, Counsel to Governor Okpebholo, APC, and INEC, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, Emmanuel Ukala SAN, and Kanu Agabi, SAN, argued that the documents should have been filed before the court before they could be admitted as exhibits.
Consequently, the Tribunal adjourned hearing on the petition filed by Dr. Asue Ighodalo and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to January 17, 2024, to enable the parties in the petition to have a pre-hearing meeting with the Court Registry on Thursday, regarding the presentation of documents by the petitioners.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the court adjournment, Ighodalo expressed confidence in the judiciary to reclaim his mandate.
He commended the people of the state for their overwhelming votes during the governorship election.
“I want to use this opportunity to commend the people of Edo State for coming out en masse to vote for us on September 21, 2024, and for keeping faith with us.
“They have been very calm in the face of intimidation and harassment in the last three months in the state.
“We strongly believe that the judiciary will do the right thing, and we are looking forward to the outcome of the Tribunal proceedings,” Ighodalo expressed hope.
Meanwhile, the Tribunal, yesterday, commenced hearing of the petition of the candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Bright Enabulele. His Counsel, J.A. Dagher, opened his case with the presentation of three witnesses in support of his petition.
Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1), Mr. Zakaria Wisdom Yahaya, adopted his witness statement and prayed the court to rely on it in support of the petitioner’s case.
Yahaya, in his statement on oath, told the court that the conduct of the poll in his Polling Unit 28, Ward 8, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, where he functioned as polling unit agent for his party (AC), was marred by irregularities, including ballot stuffing.
When cross-examined by counsel to the 1st to 3rd Respondents (Governor Okpebholo, APC, and INEC), Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, and Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, respectively, the PW1 told the court that he also functioned as Ward Agent for his party.
Another witness, Daisy Nwachuku, also testified before the court and said she functioned as polling unit agent in Oredo Unit 9, Ward 3.
When asked if she was given an agent card by INEC to function in the election, the witness answered in the negative.
Also testifying, 70-year-old PW3, Victoria Ogbebor, stated in her witness statement that she acted as a unit agent in Unit 32 for her party in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area during the election.
When asked by Aliyu if she knew one Dr. Bright Enabulele (AP candidate in the election), the witness said that she may know the name.
The case was, however, adjourned to Thursday (today) for the continuation of the hearing.
The Edo State 2024 Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kachi, has directed the parties to begin verifying documents submitted by the petitioners.
The case, EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, involving Ighodalo Asuerinme and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was adjourned to January 17, 2025.
At the hearing on January 15, the counsel representing the petitioners tendered certified electoral documents and requested they be marked as exhibits. The respondents’ counsel objected, stating the documents must first be filed and registered.
He had argued that filing was unnecessary but agreed to comply with the court’s ruling. He noted that the respondents had received copies of the documents two weeks earlier without objection.
The tribunal then ordered each party to nominate two representatives for immediate document verification. Respondents’ counsel blamed delays on the petitioners’ failure to follow due process. The tribunal adjourned, citing the large volume of documents.
In the earlier petition of the day filed by Dr. Bright Enabulele and the Accord Party, against Monday Okpebholo and two others, three witnesses testified. Cross-examinations revealed inconsistencies in their statements.
The first witness, Mr. Egbigere from Akoko Edo LGA, admitted he did not know the number of polling units in his area and lacked an INEC agent tag. He also failed to report alleged incidents of ballot theft.
The second witness, Ms. Daisy Nwachuku from Oredo LGA, served as a polling agent but had limited knowledge of the election details. She identified Senator Monday Okpebholo as the winner but could not recall exact figures.
The third witness, Mrs. Victoria Ogbebor, faced discrepancies in her testimony. She struggled to provide accurate voting details and contradicted parts of her witness statement.