The Delta State Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in
Asaba, on Tuesday frowned on the failure of the counsel for the
Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. D. D. Dodo (SAN), to
commence their defence by calling the witnesses listed to testify before
the tribunal.
The All Progressives Congress and its governorship
candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, is challenging the declaration of
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by INEC as the winner of the April 11
governorship election at the tribunal.
At the resumed hearing of the petition, INEC was expected
to open its defence by calling its witnesses as well as present its
documentary evidence for adoption and closing its case.
Dodo, who was represented by Mr. Onyinye Anumonye, instead,
pleaded for a second adjournment after the last adjournment the counsel
pleaded for and secured on Wednesday last week.
Anumonye, who moved an oral application, told the tribunal
that the document INEC sought to tender was not available as of
Tuesday(today), adding that an INEC witness, who was billed to testify
at the tribunal, called to say that she was indisposed.
Counsel
for Emerhor and the APC, Chief Thomson Okpoko (SAN), objected to the
application on the ground that the excuses given were not tenable,
noting that the tribunal had less than 30 days to deliver its judgment.
“We frown on this adjournment sought by the third
respondent (INEC) to the fifth respondent when the tribunal does not
even have up to 35 days or thereabout to deliver its judgment,” Justice
Gunmi added.
He explained that due to the adjournment, the tribunal
would abridge the time for counsel to submit and adopt their written
addresses not more than two weeks from September 30 in order to give the tribunal at least two weeks to write and deliver its judgment.
He adjourned till Wednesday next week for resumption of hearing, when INEC is expected to open its defence
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