.png)
By Iheanyi Chukwudi
The absence of an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) witness on Tuesday prevented the Commission from opening it's defence in the election petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Enugu State, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga and his party.
INEC was billed to open it's defence on Tuesday after Edeoga had closed his case against Gov. Peter Mbah and INEC on Sunday, July 16, after calling a total of 30 witnesses that testified before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Enugu and tendering several documentary evidences.
Edeogain his petition is praying the tribunal to disqualify Mbah over an alleged NYSC certificate forgery and the manipulation of the election that produced him as governor.
But on Tuesday at the resumed hearing of 5he petition where INEC was supposed to open its defense of the election, the Commission's counsel, Mr. H. Okoli told the court that the witness he had scheduled to testify could not make it to court.
He said, "I got information as I was coming into the court that the witness missed his flight and cannot be in court."
Reminding the court that the first respondent have two days to defend the result of the March 18 governorship election, Okoli said,"We are aware that they have only two days and humbly ask the court to grant them tomorrow (Wednesday) to come."
Neither Edeoga and LP lead counsel, Mr A. Awomolo (SAN) nor Mbah's and PDP's counsel, Mr. Ikechukwu Onuoma and Mr. Anthony Ani (SAN) opposed Okoli's application.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice M. K Akano appealed to the second respondent's counsel to be ready to open his case at close of the INEC's case and adjourned the case till July 19 for continued hearing.
Comments