INEC Under Fire As Edo Election Tribunal Faces Unexpected Roadblock

Proceedings at the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja were disrupted on Wednesday due to the absence of witnesses from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The tribunal is currently hearing a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election, which declared Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.

During the resumed hearing, INEC’s counsel, Abdullahi Aliyu, informed the tribunal that the five witnesses scheduled to testify for the defence were still en route from Benin City and were unable to appear as planned.

In an effort to demonstrate its readiness to defend the election results, INEC submitted three key documents before the Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal, namely:

– Certified True Copies of the State-Level Collation of Results (Form EC8D)
– Declaration of Results Form
– Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022

However, Justice Wilfred Kpochi criticized INEC’s lack of preparation, stating that the day’s proceedings had been wasted due to the commission’s failure to present witnesses.

Despite the setback, INEC’s counsel, Aliyu, requested an adjournment, assuring the tribunal that the commission still had a ten-day window to present its defence and would only require one day to conclude its case.

PDP’s counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo, did not object to the tendering of the documents but pointed out that the same documents had previously been submitted by the PDP to support their claim that the election was flawed.

The tribunal subsequently adjourned the hearing until Thursday to allow INEC to present its witnesses.

The PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, are seeking to overturn Okpebholo’s victory, arguing that the election was conducted in violation of the Electoral Act, 2022. They claim Okpebholo did not obtain the highest number of lawful votes and are urging the tribunal to nullify the election results.