By Kingston Magare
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)Thursday failed to produce any witnesses at the Edo State governorship election Tribunal sitting in Abuja and has closed its defense of the petition brought by Asue Ighodalo of the People’s Democratic Party against the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo of All Progressives Congress (APC).
During the sitting on Wednesday INEC had failed to present its witnesses, telling the Tribunal that the persons who were supposed to testify in defence of the declared result of the September 21 Governorship Election were still on their way to Abuja. There was uproar at the hearing Thursday when the INEC said the witnesses were not available and was closing its case after tendering the same documents submitted by Mr. Ighodalo’s legal team to buttress their own case.
“My lords, after we left you yesterday (Wednesday), we gave more thought to the matter and came to the conclusion that the sensible thing to do is to close the case of the 1st Respondent, which we hereby do,” Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, counsel to INEC told the Tribunal.
Mr Ighodalo’s lawyers did not object to INEC closing its defence: “Frankly speaking, we are not surprised, and it is well within the right of the 1st Respondent to show such a good discretion. We are not objecting,” said Mr. Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN.
The camp of Mr. Okpebholo appeared rattled by INEC’s failure to present a strong defence of the dispute result. His legal team are now looking to convince the Tribunal that the result was valid when they present their case on Monday.
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