The Edo State Election Petition Tribunal has revealed that a total of 290 witnesses will be called by both the petitioners and the defendants during the ongoing hearing of the petition.
DAILY GAZETTE reports that the petitioners in the case include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its candidate Asue Ighodalo, and five other political parties.
The defendants are the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The tribunal chairman, Justice Wilfred Ikpochi, made this announcement in Benin during the presentation of pre-hearing reports and scheduling to the parties involved in the petition.
He confirmed that the 290 witnesses were proposed by the parties as part of the harmonized proposal for the pre-hearing conference.
Justice Ikpochi clarified that only witnesses whose statements have been filed under oath and subpoenaed where necessary would be called to testify.
For each star witness, 40 minutes will be allocated for examination-in-chief, 30 minutes for cross-examination by the petitioners, and 20 minutes for cross-examination by each respondent.
Additionally, 10 minutes will be allocated for re-examination of each star witness, and 25 minutes for examination-in-chief of other ordinary witnesses.
The parties are also permitted to call expert witnesses, as indicated in their pre-hearing responses.
The tribunal chairman emphasized that all pleading documents must be rendered and admitted by the tribunal, with any objections to be raised separately during the final addresses.
He also warned that frivolous or unnecessary applications for adjournments would not be entertained, as the election petitions are time-sensitive.
Furthermore, no written address filed by counsel should exceed 40 pages.
The tribunal adjourned the hearing to January 13, 2025.
The petition follows the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo, where INEC declared APC candidate Senator Monday Okpebholo as the winner.
Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating PDP’s Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and six other parties have filed petitions challenging Okpebholo’s victory.
