The All Progressives Congress, (APC) has closed its defence in the petition at the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal challenging its victory in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo.
The party, which is the third respondent in the petition, closed its case after four witnesses testified to substantiate its claim of victory at the Edo governorship poll.
When the matter came up on Thursday, counsel to APC, Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), told the tribunal that his client would close its case because the plethora of documents tendered, the evidence of the petitioners during cross-examination, and the evidence of the third respondent had done justice to the case.
He said that, as a result, there was no need to call additional witnesses.
“Considering all the enumerated factors, we are happy at this stage to close the 3rd respondent’s case, with the leave of my Lordships,” Orbih said.
Since the petitioners did not object, Justice Wilfred Kpochi granted the request and fixed March 3 for the parties to adopt their final written addresses.
The three-member panel gave the respondents seven days to file and serve their processes.
The tribunal also ordered the petitioners to reply within five days of receiving the processes, adding that the respondents could reply to points of law within three days.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the tribunal adjourned proceedings on Wednesday to enable the APC to tender some documents that it claimed its remaining witnesses would rely on in giving their evidence.
The party had told the tribunal that it would call 28 witnesses to defend its victory in the Edo governorship election.
NAN reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the first respondent in the petition, declared Gov. Monday Okpebholo of the APC the winner of that election.
The petitioners contended that the governorship election was invalid due to alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
They equally argued in the petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024 that Okpebholo did not secure the highest number of lawful votes cast at the polls.
The petitioners called 19 witnesses to prove that over-voting and wrong-vote computations occurred in over 700 polling units during the election.
INEC, as the 1st respondent, did not call any witnesses but tendered 153 Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) used in 133 polling units where results were being disputed.
Okpebholo, as the 2nd respondent, called a lone witness while the APC called four witnesses.
The petitioners and respondents will adopt their final written addresses on March 3, following which a date for judgment will be fixed.
