The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has reprimanded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for failing to produce key witnesses in their petition challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel for the PDP and Ighodalo, Mr. Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, informed the tribunal that most of their proposed witnesses were unable to attend due to “travel disruptions.” He appealed for an adjournment, pledging to present witnesses at the next sitting.
“My lords, we undertake to bring as many witnesses as the tribunal requires on the next date,” Oyeyipo pleaded after the discharge of their lead witness, Mr. Oseyili Anenih.
The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led tribunal expressed dissatisfaction, accusing the petitioners of wasting judicial time. “This is unacceptable. Why then did we ask other petitioners to take fresh dates? We should have heard them today,” Justice Kpochi fumed.
Anenih, under cross-examination, admitted that he relied on reports from party agents and experts, noting that many of the result sheets presented to him were unsigned. He also conceded that PDP agents did not give him polling unit results directly, and only three out of 16 result sheets submitted were stamped.
The tribunal adjourned the case to Thursday, giving the petitioners another opportunity to present their witnesses.
