Edo Election Tribunal Adjourns as INEC Witnesses Fail to Appear

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has been forced to adjourn proceedings until February 6, due to the unexpected absence of five key witnesses scheduled to testify on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The tribunal was set to hear INEC’s defense on February 5, but the witnesses, who were traveling from Benin City, failed to arrive on time.

In an effort to make some progress, INEC’s counsel, Abdullahi Aliyu, submitted three crucial documents, including __Certified True Copies of State-level collation results (Form EC8D)__, __Declaration of results__, and __2022 election regulations and guidelines__. These documents were already part of the evidence submitted to challenge the election outcome, and Adetunji Oyeyipo, counsel for PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo, did not object to their submission.

However, Tribunal Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, was not pleased with the delay, criticizing INEC for wasting an entire day due to its unpreparedness. INEC has assured the tribunal that it only needs one more day to conclude its defense, and the proceedings have been rescheduled for February 6. This development is the latest twist in the ongoing election petition saga, which has been ongoing since the September 21 poll.