From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday closed its defence before the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, opting not to present any witnesses.
Lead counsel for INEC, Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, that after reconsideration, the commission decided against calling witnesses to justify its declaration of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the September 21 governorship election.
“My lords, after we left you yesterday, we gave more thought to the matter and came to the conclusion that the sensible thing to do is to close the case of the 1st Respondent, which we hereby do,” Agabi stated.
Initially, while opening its defence on Wednesday, INEC had indicated it would call five witnesses to support its position.
However, on Thursday, the commission reversed course, closing its case without presenting any testimony.
Neither the legal representatives of the APC, Governor Okpebholo, nor those of the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, objected to INEC’s decision.
With INEC concluding its defence, Okpebholo’s lead counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), alongside D.C. Dewigwe (SAN), representing the APC, requested an adjournment to enable them to prepare their witnesses and open their defence.
The tribunal subsequently adjourned the case till Monday for Okpebholo to begin his defence against the petition.
INEC had declared that Okpebholo of the APC won the election with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo of the PDP, who polled 247,655 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and Ighodalo petitioned the tribunal, seeking to nullify INEC’s declaration of APC and Okpebholo as winners of the poll.
