The adjournment followed an application filed by the lead counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission and Okpebholo, the 1st and 2nd respondents, requesting the court to postpone proceedings.
The commencement of full hearing in the governorship election petition of Edo State will fully commence on January 15, 2025.
The development is as the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal adjourned the case.
The adjournment followed an application filed by the lead counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission and Okpebholo, the 1st and 2nd respondents, requesting the court to postpone proceedings.
It would be recalled that the petition was filed by Dr Asue Ighodalo and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the 21 September 2024 election.
The petitioners, Ighodalo who is the first petitioner, alongside the People’s Democratic Party which is the second petitioner, are contesting INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as the winner of the election.
Earlier on December 21, 2024 the tribunal led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had adjourned the hearing to January 13, 2025, after the conclusion of the pre-hearing sessions.
However at the resumption of the case on January 13, 2025, in Benin City, the tribunal’s Assistant Secretary, Dayo Dahunsi, informed the court of a pending application from the 1st and 2nd respondents, seeking an adjournment to Wednesday.
He explained that the adjournment was requested because the lead counsel for the respondents was scheduled to appear before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, for a matter set for a definite hearing.
This was not opposed by Oladipo Oshinowo who stood in for the lead counsel of petitioners, Ken Mozia.
He stated: “Although we are ready and prepared to commence trials today, we received a copy of the letter seeking an adjournment late yesterday from the tribunal registry. The 1st and 2nd respondents are requesting this adjournment.”
“We are, therefore, constrained to concede to this request for adjournment on the understanding that no further such requests will be made by the respondents in the future.”
The development was also not contested by Josephine Ogagaworia, who is the lead counsel of the All Progressives Congress.
Afterwards, Justice Kpochi adjourned the sitting to Wednesday.
It would be recalled that Okpebholo was said to have secured 291,667 votes, defeating the PDP’s Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes.
The PDP has, however, severely disputed the result of the election announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the state, declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election.
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