Due to a conflicting matter at the Supreme Court, the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal was adjourned until January 15 yesterday.
The lead counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo (first and second respondents) filed an application in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate for governor in the September 21, 2024 election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
According to Dayo Dahunsi, the tribunal’s assistant secretary, the first and second respondents had a pending application seeking an adjournment because the lead counsel would be before the apex court on January 14 in a matter scheduled for a definite hearing.
Dahunsi read the letter of adjournment that the respondents had submitted, which read that the second respondent’s counsel had a matter scheduled at the Supreme Court on January 14.
“We kindly request the indulgence of this honourable tribunal, and confirm that all counsel and parties involved have been duly served via e-mail and WhatsApp.”
In response to the application, Oladipo Oshinowo, who held the brief of the petitioners’ lead counsel, Ken Mozia, SAN, stated that he was not opposing the application, in the spirit of cooperation. He said, “On behalf of the petitioners, we are prepared to begin trial on January 14; however, the letter for adjournment was submitted to our lead counsel by the registry late yesterday (January 12), wherein the first and second respondents are seeking an adjournment but did not include a hearing notice for the Supreme Court matter referenced.”
