Enugu Tribunal: Mbah’s Election Hopes In Jeopardy As INEC Fumbles With Witness Stand

 

 

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decided not to present any witness at the Enugu Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to defend the victory of the governor, Peter Mbah.

This online media platform gathered that when the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Enugu, called up for hearing on Wednesday, the electoral commission refused to present any witness against the allegation laid by the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Chijioke Edeoga, that Mbah’s emergence was manipulated.

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At today’s hearing, the electoral umpire was to call its first witness to justify its declaration of Mbah, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.

However, when the case was called for hearing, INEC, through its team of lawyers led by Humphrey Okoli, told the court that the commission had decided not to bring any witnesses.

Okoli said: “The first respondent (INEC) is mandated to open the case. My Lord, after a thorough review of the case, we have decided not to bring in any witness.”

However, the PDP, who was also supposed to be its witnesses today, did not object to the stand.

Counsel for the PDP, and the governor, Benjamin Nwosu, expressed the PDP’s determination to produce witnesses to defend the outcome of the disputed governorship poll.

Nwosu then requested the tribunal for an extension of time to enable them to bring their witnesses.

He said, “We are inclined to open our case today. However, we will need two hours to present our witnesses.”

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The counsel for the PDP then revealed that the party would want to call up to nine witnesses to defend their case.

Edeoga’s legal team led by Adegboyega Awomolo, did not oppose the application for an adjournment.

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