The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned to Wednesday, January 15, 2025, for the commencement of a full hearing on the petition 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 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 petitioners, Ighodalo (1st petitioner) and the PDP (2nd petitioner) are contesting INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as the winner of the election.
It will be recalled that the tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had on December 21, 2024, adjourned the hearing to January 13, 2025, after the conclusion of the pre-hearing sessions. At the resumed sitting on Monday, 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. The applicants also noted that their request applied to other petitions against their clients currently before the tribunal.
In response, Oladipo Oshinowo, standing in for the lead counsel of the petitioners, Ken Mozia, did not oppose the application in the spirit of cooperation.
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.”
Counsel for the 3rd respondent, the APC, Josephine Ogagaworia, also did not object to the application. Following this, Justice Kpochi adjourned the sitting to Wednesday.
According to INEC, Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating the PDP’s Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes.