The Edo State Election Petition Tribunal, presiding in Benin City, has announced that 290 witnesses are set to testify in the petition challenging the declaration of Monday Okpebholo, the APC candidate, as the winner of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
The petition, filed by Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, contests the results declared by INEC, citing irregularities. During the pre-hearing session, tribunal chairman Justice Wilfred Ikpochi disclosed that the witnesses were identified in harmonized pre-hearing proposals submitted by the parties.
Key directives from the tribunal include:
- Witness Duration: Petitioners have 21 days to present their witnesses, while respondents are allocated 10 days.
- Document Admittance: All documents will be admitted, with objections reserved for final addresses.
- Frivolous Adjournments: Unnecessary adjournments will be rejected due to the time-bound nature of election petitions.
Justice Ikpochi emphasized adherence to the Electoral Act 2022, warning against applications for adjournments or amendments. He also instructed counsels to limit written addresses to 40 pages, formatted in double spacing with a 14-point font.
The tribunal has been adjourned to January 13, 2025, for the commencement of the hearing, with daily sittings except on Sundays and public holidays.
