The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Benin, on Thursday, reserved rulings in the motion on notice challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the September 21, 2024, election in the state.
This motions were filed by Akhimie Kingston Afeare and Bishop Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena, candidates of the Action Democratic Party and Zenith Labour Party in the election.
Their petitions, dated and filed EPT/ED/GOV/06/2024 and EPT/ED/GOV/07/2024, are challenging the conduct of the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress, first to third respondents respectively, earlier in their opposition to the petitions, filed motions on notice before the tribunal.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-man tribunal reserved rulings in the judgment stage of the main petitions after lawyers to the parties in the suit adopted their written briefs, supported by various affidavits.
Lead counsel for the applicants, Abdullahi Aliyu (SAN), Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN) and Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), urged the tribunal to grant their applications and the reliefs sought therein in the applications.
Counsel for the petitioners, Wisdom Isaac, however, prayed the court to dismiss the applications and confine the same to the dustbin of history, claiming they lacked merit.
Similarly, the tribunal reserved rulings in the applications filed by the INEC, Okpebholo and APC, challenging the competency of the petitions filed by candidates of the Social Democratic Party, Anerua Abdulai Aliu and Allied Peoples Movement against the election.
This was after counsel for the applicants, Aliyu (SAN), Ikpeazu (SAN) and Ukala (SAN) and the petitioners, Jackson Ehiavbi, presented their briefs, supported by various affidavits and adopted the same.
While reserving rulings to a later date, Justice Kpochi adjourned the sitting to Monday, January 20, for the issuance of a pre-hearing report to parties in the suit.
The court also adjourned the hearing in the petition filed by the candidate of Acord, Dr Bright Enabulele, against INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as the winner of the poll at the instance of the petitioners.
When the case was called on Thursday, counsel for the petitioners, Joel Tagher, told the court that one of the last two witnesses of his clients was ill and could not make it to court.
When told to call the other witness, Tagher informed the tribunal that the witness was on subpoena and not in court.
He, therefore, prayed the court for adjournment.
Granting the prayer of the petitioners which was not objected to by the respondents, Justice Kpochi adjourned the case to Tuesday, January 21, for the continuation of the hearing.
