National and State Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Asaba and headed by Justice C.O. Onyeador, on Thursday, adjourned till July 11, 2019, the case in which Benjamin Okiemute of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is challenging the electoral victory of Kenneth Ogba of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election.Justice Onyeador also directed that the documents, namely INEC Form EC81, including Voters Register for ten Polling Units in Irri and units 7 and 8 in Oleh Ward 2, brought forward by Okiemute, should be admitted ”from the Bar” and collectively as Exhibit A.
In Petition Number EPT\DT\SHA\30\2019, Okiemute and his political party (APC) are challenging the declaration of Ogba as the duly elected member representing Isoko South in the Delta State House of Assembly by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The chairman of the State Assembly Tribunal who adjourned the case till July 11, 2019, said the adjourned date was for Adoption or presentation of their respective written address by the various parties to the matter.
The petitioner, Benjamin Essien Okiemute is joined as the Petitioner and with the APC, while Kenneth Ogba, the PDP and the INEC are joined in the matter as First Respondent, Second Respondent and Third Respondent, respectively.
The highpoint of Thursday’s proceeding, which was described as ”robust” by the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Onyeador, was the appearance by the senior INEC official in charge of the March 9, 2019 election, Shuaibu Razak as a key witness invited by the counsel to 3rd Respondent.
Then followed a long session of legal fireworks between counsel to Petitioner, Elder I.I. Okim and those of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents led by H. Aboloje (for Petitioner) and A.Irogbo Esq (for 2nd Respondent) bordering on admissibility of additional INEC documents.
She then thanked the lawyers and counsels on both side of the divine for their vibrant and robust argument all through the proceedings.
The tribunal had earlier on Thursday adjourned commencement of hearing in the matter until 1.30pm as the INEC witness, Mr Razak was being awaited in Court in Asaba from outside Delta State.
