The chairman of the Edo state Governorship Election petition tribunal sitting in Benin, the state capital, Justice Yenusa musa has adjourned sitting to 9th February 2021 in the cases filled by the Action Democratic Party, ADP, challenging the eligibility of Governor Godwin Obaseki to contest the 19th September 2020 election.
Justice Yenusa, who commended the Counsels for the parties for conducting themselves in orderly manner all through the proceedings said the adjourned date is for adoption of final written addresses by the petitioner and the respondent’s counsel.
Counsels to the fourth and fifth respondents which are APC and Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in a petition filled by the Action democratic party, ADP challenging the eligibility of Governor Godwin Obaseki, closed their defense by calling one witness each to testify against the third respondent which is, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The two witnesses called by the Fourth and fifth respondents tendered copies of the third respondent’s WAEC and NYSC certificates as well as his testimonial to the tribunal as exhibit which were admitted in evidence.
The witnesses said, in 2016, PDP the 3rd respondent’s, first raised the query of the certificate of the respondent in a federal high court.
The witnesses told the three-man tribunal that the third respondent forged his certificate which he summited to INEC and as such should be disqualified and the first runner- up in the election be issued certificate of return.
The counsel to INEC, PDP and Governor Godwin Obaseki took turns to cross examined the witnesses at the witness box.
Counsel to the third respondent Ken Mizia SAN faulted the witnesses’ claim that the certificate was forged and wondered why they asked the court to issue a certificate of return to the fifth respondent (Ize-Iyamu), who did not file any petition in the tribunal.
At the end of the day’s proceedings, only counsels to the petitioner and that of the second respondent which is PDP agreed to address the press.
The ADP’ s petition is one out of the four petitions before the tribunal
(Editor:Abaje Usekwe)
