Inside Edo
Edo Tribunal reserves ruling on INEC, Okpebholo, APC applications Against ADP, others
Written By: Idahosa Musa
16 Jan 2025 06:58 PM
Benin, Edo – The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Sitting in Benin, on Thursday reserved rulings in the Motion on Notice, seeking to dismiss the petitions filed by Mr. Akhimie Kingston Afeare and Bishop Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena, against declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, as winner of September 21 election in Edo.
Akhimie and Akhalamhe, candidates of Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the election in their petitions dated and filed marked EPT/ED/GOV/06/2024 and EPT/ED/GOV/07/2024, are challenging the conduct of the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Okpebholo and All Progressives Congress (APC), 1st to 3rd respondents earlier in their opposition to the petitions filed Motions on Notice before the Tribunal.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi led 3-man Tribunal reserved rulings to the judgment stage of the main petitions after lawyers to the parties in the suit have adopted their written briefs supported by various paragraphs affidavits
Lead counsel to the trio applicants, Abdullahi Aliyu SAN, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN and and Emmanuel Ukala, SAN urged the Tribunal to grant their applications and the reliefs sought therein in the applications.
But counsel to the petitioners', Wisdom Isaac, Esq, prayed the court to dismiss the applications and confined same to the dustbin of history, claiming the applications lack merit.
While reserving ruling to a later date, Justice Kpochi adjourned sitting to Monday, January 20, 2025 for the issuance of Pre-hearing Report to parties in the suit.
Similarly, the 3-man Election Petition Tribunal, also reserved rulings in the applications filed by INEC, Okpebholo and APC, challenging the competency of the petitions filed by candidates of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Anerua Abdulai Aliu and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against the election to judgement stage of the petitions.
This was after counsel to the applicants, Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, Onyeachi.Ikpeazu, SAN and Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, and the Petitioners, Jackson Ehiavbi, Esq. have presented their briefs, supported by various paragraphs affidavits and adopted same.
In another development, the court also adjourned hearing in the petition filed by candidate of the Acord Party (AP), Dr. Bright Enabulele, against INEC's declaration of Okpebholo as winner of the September 21, 2024 poll at the instance of the petitioners.
When the case was called on Thursday, counsel to the petitioners, Joel Tagher, told the court that one of the last two witness of his clients is ill , hence he could not make it to court.
When told to call the other witness, Tagher informed the Tribunal that witness is on subpoena and not in court,
He therefore, prayed the court for adjournment.
Grating the prayer of the petitioners which was not objected to by the respondents, Justice Wilfred Kpochi adjourned the case to Tuesday, January 21, for continuation of hearing
It would be recalled that the petitioners who opened their cases on Wednesday, have called three witnesses out of the five witnesses scheduled to testify in their favour.
Akhimie and Akhalamhe, candidates of Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the election in their petitions dated and filed marked EPT/ED/GOV/06/2024 and EPT/ED/GOV/07/2024, are challenging the conduct of the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Okpebholo and All Progressives Congress (APC), 1st to 3rd respondents earlier in their opposition to the petitions filed Motions on Notice before the Tribunal.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi led 3-man Tribunal reserved rulings to the judgment stage of the main petitions after lawyers to the parties in the suit have adopted their written briefs supported by various paragraphs affidavits
Lead counsel to the trio applicants, Abdullahi Aliyu SAN, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN and and Emmanuel Ukala, SAN urged the Tribunal to grant their applications and the reliefs sought therein in the applications.
But counsel to the petitioners', Wisdom Isaac, Esq, prayed the court to dismiss the applications and confined same to the dustbin of history, claiming the applications lack merit.
While reserving ruling to a later date, Justice Kpochi adjourned sitting to Monday, January 20, 2025 for the issuance of Pre-hearing Report to parties in the suit.
Similarly, the 3-man Election Petition Tribunal, also reserved rulings in the applications filed by INEC, Okpebholo and APC, challenging the competency of the petitions filed by candidates of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Anerua Abdulai Aliu and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against the election to judgement stage of the petitions.
This was after counsel to the applicants, Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, Onyeachi.Ikpeazu, SAN and Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, and the Petitioners, Jackson Ehiavbi, Esq. have presented their briefs, supported by various paragraphs affidavits and adopted same.
In another development, the court also adjourned hearing in the petition filed by candidate of the Acord Party (AP), Dr. Bright Enabulele, against INEC's declaration of Okpebholo as winner of the September 21, 2024 poll at the instance of the petitioners.
When the case was called on Thursday, counsel to the petitioners, Joel Tagher, told the court that one of the last two witness of his clients is ill , hence he could not make it to court.
When told to call the other witness, Tagher informed the Tribunal that witness is on subpoena and not in court,
He therefore, prayed the court for adjournment.
Grating the prayer of the petitioners which was not objected to by the respondents, Justice Wilfred Kpochi adjourned the case to Tuesday, January 21, for continuation of hearing
It would be recalled that the petitioners who opened their cases on Wednesday, have called three witnesses out of the five witnesses scheduled to testify in their favour.
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