Ten weeks after the conduct of the Edo State governorship election, a
hearing of petitions has commenced at the State High Court in Benin
City.
During Monday’s sitting, five petitions filed challenging the victory of
Governor Godwin Obaseki in the September 19 governorship election were
listed.
They are Action Democratic Party and its governorship candidate,
Emmanuel Iboi; the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Emmanuel Iboi vs
INEC, PDP, Godwin Obaseki, APC, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Others include the Allied Peoples’ Movement vs. INEC, PDP, Godwin
Obaseki and Philip Shaibu; Agol Ebun Tracy vs. INEC, PDP and Godwin
Obaseki; Action Peoples Party vs. Godwin Obaseki, PDP and INEC and the
Action Alliance and Another vs. Godwin Obaseki, PDP and INEC.
After the announcement of appearances, the counsel to the first
respondent, INEC, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) informed the Tribunal that
they had filed a total of three processes.
They include: Motion on Notice dated 13th November 2020 and filed on the
20th of November, First Respondent Reply on Point of Law and Reply to
Counter Affidavit of Fourth Respondent, APC.
In reaction to the motion on notice, the petitioners filed a
counter-affidavit together with a written address in opposition on
November 28.
The counsel to the 2nd respondent, the PDP, Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, told
the tribunal that they filed an application dated 11th November 2020 and
subsequently filed two fresh applications today.
The fresh applications seek the striking out of the names of the 4th and
5th respondents as respondents to the petition while the second
application seeks an order striking out paragraph 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21
of the petition.
He also sought to withdraw the first application and substitute with the
one filed this morning.
The counsel to the petitioners, Ikhide Ehighelua did not object to the
withdrawal of the application as sought by the counsel to the second
respondent but informed the tribunal that he was served the fresh
processes only this morning.
The Chairman of the Tribunal, Abdulrazak Abdulkareem struck out the
second respondent’s application which he had applied to withdraw.