The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), failed to present its witnesses before the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja during its resumed sitting on Thursday.
INEC had been expected to defend its declaration of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the September 21, 2025, governorship election in Edo State.
However, when the tribunal convened, no witnesses were fielded by the electoral body.
Leading INEC’s legal team, former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the tribunal that the Commission had decided against producing witnesses to testify on its behalf.
This came just a day after INEC had announced it would bring five witnesses to testify in support of the election results.
The Commission had earlier requested an adjournment until Thursday, stating that its witnesses would be traveling from Benin City, Edo State.
However, Agabi explained that, after further review, the legal team had concluded it was best to close the case without presenting any testimony.
“My lords, after we left you yesterday (Wednesday), we gave more thought to the matter and came to the conclusion that the sensible thing to do is to close the case of the 1st Respondent, which we hereby do,” Agabi told the tribunal.
In response, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, expressed no surprise at the development.
“Frankly speaking, we are not surprised, and it is well within the right of the 1st Respondent to show such good discretion.
We are not objecting,” said the petitioner’s counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo.
Following the closure of INEC’s case and the absence of witnesses, the counsels for Governor Okpebholo, Onyechi Ikpeazu, and D.C. Dewigwe, representing the APC, stated they had no objection to INEC’s decision and requested an adjournment to prepare their own witnesses and open their cases.
The tribunal subsequently adjourned the matter to Monday, when Governor Okpebholo will begin his defence of the petition.
INEC had declared Okpebholo the winner of the election with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo of the PDP, who secured 247,655 votes.
