Edo Tribunal: PDP, APC, INEC Prepare 290 Witnesses for Legal Battle

The Edo State tribunal sees PDP, APC, and INEC ready with 290 witnesses as they gear up for a significant legal showdown over electoral matters.

The Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress, and the Independent National Electoral Commission will present 290 witnesses to support their cases at the ongoing governorship election petition tribunal in Edo State.

Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate in the September 21 governorship election, had petitioned the tribunal to annul the declaration of victory for the APC candidate.

Monday Okpebholo, having emerged as the winner of the poll.

Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the chairman of the tribunal, revealed on Saturday that the parties had consented to call a total of 290 witnesses.

Justice Kpochi postponed the hearing to January 13, 2025. He noted that the petitioners must present their witnesses within a maximum of 21 days, while each respondent is allotted 10 days to call their own witnesses.

He stated that the tribunal would convene daily at 10 am, excluding Sundays and public holidays as designated by law.

The panel chairman also announced that they had finalized the schedule for examining and cross-examining witnesses, as well as the overall proceedings of the hearing.

After reviewing the adopted pre-hearing report, Justice Kpochi stated, “The parties have consented to summon a total of 290 witnesses.”

The report details the schedule for witness examination, allowing 40 minutes for each star witness’s direct examination, followed by 30 minutes for cross-examination by the petitioners and an additional 20 minutes allotted to each respondent.

According to the tribunal chairman, the parties also agreed to allocate 10 minutes for re-examining each star witness and 25 minutes for examining other ordinary witnesses in chief.

Justice Kpochi stated that the petition would not be consolidated with any others, as no applications had been submitted regarding this matter. Additionally, no amendments to it will be accepted.

The tribunal chairman stated that the parties had agreed to summon only those witnesses whose sworn statements had already been submitted in advance, and they might also call subpoenaed witnesses if needed.

He stated that interpreters would be available to translate for certain witnesses between English and native languages such as Benin, Esan, Auchi dialects, and vice versa.