Edo tribunal adjourns hearing on Ighodalo, PDP petitions over document presentation issues
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned the hearing of petitions filed by Asue Ighodalo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Friday, January 17, 2025. The adjournment will allow the parties in the suit to meet with the court registry for a pre-hearing session regarding the presentation of documents by the petitioners.
The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led tribunal, in its announcement on Wednesday, January 15, scheduled the pre-hearing meeting for Thursday, January 16, 2025, to discuss the procedures for submitting the petitioners’ documents.
The adjournment followed a motion by Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, lead counsel for the petitioners, who argued that his clients were ready to present carefully organized documents related to the election process. Oyeyipo, represented by Ken Mozia, assured the court that the documents were arranged to facilitate a smooth process for all parties involved.
However, counsel for Governor Monday Okpebholo, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—including Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, and Kanu Agabi, SAN—opposed the motion. They argued that the documents should have been filed with the court before being admitted as exhibits.
As the tribunal began hearing petitions, a 70-year-old witness, Victoria Ogbebor, testified for Dr. Bright Enabulele, candidate of the Accord Party (AP). Ogbebor, who served as a unit agent in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area during the election, claimed she might know Enabulele’s name, though she was uncertain about other details.
Two other witnesses, Zakaria Wisdom Yahaya and Daisy Nwanchukwu, also testified in support of the petitioners. Yahaya, acting as a polling unit agent in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, testified to witnessing irregularities such as ballot stuffing. Nwanchukwu, who worked as a polling unit agent in Oredo Ward 3, confirmed she was not issued an agent card by INEC.
The tribunal adjourned the continuation of the hearing to Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Following the adjournment, Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate, expressed confidence in the judicial process and thanked the people of Edo State for their strong support during the election. He stated, “We strongly believe that the judiciary will do the right thing, and we are looking forward to the outcome of the Tribunal proceedings.”
Seven petitions challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the 2024 Edo State Governorship Election have been filed before the tribunal. Other petitioners include the Accord Party (AP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Recall that INEC declared Governor Monday Okpebholo of the APC as the winner of the election on September 22, 2024, with 291,667 votes, defeating Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who secured 247,274 votes.
