News

Edo Election Tribunal Adjourns Hearing Over Row On Presentation Of Documents

Published

7 months ago

January 15, 2025

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday adjourned hearing on Asue Ighodalo and the Peoples Democratic Party’s petitions to Friday, January 17, 2025, to enable parties in the suit to have a pre-hearing meeting with the court registry on the way to go about presentation of documents by the petitioners.

Justice Kpochi slated Thursday, January 16, 2025 for the parties in the petition to have a pre-hearing meeting with the court registry.

The adjournment of the petitions followed the motion by Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, petitioners’ lead counsel, that his clients were ready to tender carefully arranged documents used in the conduct of the election.

Oyeyipo, represented by Ken Mozia, told the court that the documents set to tender from the bar were arranged in a way to make the entire process seamless for parties before the court.

However, counsel to Governor Monday Okpebholo, APC and INEC, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, Emmanuel Ukala SAN, and Kanu Agabi, SAN, respectively, opposed the motion of the petitioners’ counsel.

The trio averred that the documents should have be filed before the court before same can be admitted as exhibits.

Meanwhile, as the tribunal fully commenced hearing of petitions before it, a 70-year-old Victoria Ogbebor testified for Dr Bright Enabulele the candidate of Accord Party, AP.

The 70-year-old witness told the tribunal that she acted as a unit agent in Unit 32 for her party in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area during the election.

When asked by the respondents counsel if she knew Enabulele, she said that she may know the name.

The counsel to the petitioner, J.A. Dagher, also called two other witnesses.

The two other witnesses are Mr. Zakaria Wisdom Yahaya and Daisy Nwanchukwu.

Yahaya in his witness statement prayed the court to rely on it in support of the petitioner’s case.

He told the court that the conduct of the election in his Polling Unit 28, Ward 8, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area where he functioned as a polling unit agent for the party, AP were married with irregularities such as ballots stuffing.

When cross examined by Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, and Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, counsel to the 1st to 3rd respondents, the witness also told the court that he functioned as ward agent for his party.

The third witness for the petitioners, Daisy Nwanchukwu told the tribunal that she functioned as a polling Unit agent in Oredo Unit 9, Ward 3.

Nwanchukwu, when asked by the respondents if she was given an agent card by INEC to function in the election, answered in the negative.

The tribunal adjourned continuation of hearing to Thursday, January 16, 2025.

However, speaking with journalists shortly after the adjournment, Ighodalo, candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, expressed confidence in the judiciary of reclaiming his mandate.

Ighodalo also commended the people of the state for their overwhelming votes during the governorship election.

“I want to use this opportunity to commend the people of Edo State for coming out en masse to vote for us on September 21, 2024 and for keeping faith with us.

“They have been very calm in the face of intimidation, harassment in the last three months in the state.

“We strongly believe that the judiciary will do the right thing and we are looking forward to the outcome of the Tribunal proceedings”, he stated.

There seven petitions challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo as winner of the 2024 Edo State Governorship Election were filed before the tribunal.

The petitioners are Asue Ighodalo, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Accord Party, AP, Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Action Democratic Party, ADP, Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, and the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Related Topics:#Edo election Tribunal Tribunal

Up Next

PAP Scholarship: IYN Praises Tinubu, Otuaro For Transformative Leadership In Niger Delta

Don't Miss

Reps Query NECO For Spending IGR, Postpones Budget Defence

Comments

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

21 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

21 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

21 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.