From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State Election Petition Tribunal will today deliver judgment in the petition filed before it by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, challenging the declaration of Governor Godwin Obaseki by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the winner of the September 28, 2016 gubernatorial election.
INEC, Obaseki and All Progressives Congress (APC) are listed as first, second and third respondents respectively, in the petition.
The three-man tribunal, headed by Justice Ahmed Badamasi, after hearing the case between January 7, 2017 and April 3, 2017 when counsel to the parties in the petition addressed it (tribunal), on Wednesday informed parties in the case of its readiness to deliver judgment in the case.
The petitioners are being represented in the case by Yusuf Alli (SAN), who is leading legal luminaries such as Roland Otaru (SAN), Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), Kemi Pinhero (SAN), Ferdinando Orbih (SAN), among others while Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) is leading A. B. Mahmoud (SAN), H. M. Liman (SAN), Ahmed Raji (SAN) and Onyinye Anumonye, among other lawyers in defence of INEC.
The legal team of the second respondent, Obaseki is headed by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who is leading Ken Mozia (SAN), Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), A. J. Owonikoko (SAN), among others, while the legal team of the third respondent, APC, is headed by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who is leading Ricky Tarfa, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Rotimi Ogunesan (SAN), Dr. J. O. Olatoke (SAN) and others. During their addresses, lead counsel to the parties laboured hard to convince the tribunal why their arguments should prevail.
Today’s judgment will determine the party whose material evidence and point of law will sway the tribunal.