Tribunal postpones Edo governorship election case to 2025

The Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has rescheduled its proceedings to January 13, 2025, to address a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contesting the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The petition, brought by Dr. Asue Ighodalo and the PDP, disputes the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.

INEC results showed Okpebholo garnered 291,667 votes, surpassing Ighodalo’s 247,274 votes.

Justice Wilfred Kpochi, chairman of the tribunal, adjourned the case after adopting the pre-hearing report, which outlined agreements reached by both parties.

READ ALSO :AGF Fagbemi speaks on suspension of Edo LG chairmen

According to the report, 290 witnesses will be called in total. Each star witness will have 40 minutes for examination-in-chief, while cross-examination by the petitioners will take 30 minutes, and each respondent will have 20 minutes. Re-examination of star witnesses is set at 10 minutes, and other witnesses will have 25 minutes for their examination-in-chief.

The petitioners will have 21 days to present their witnesses, while respondents will have 10 days each for theirs. Daily hearings will commence at 10 a.m., excluding Sundays and public holidays.

The tribunal proceedings are part of ongoing efforts to address disputes from the 2024 Edo governorship election.