Delta Tribunal Dismisses Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s two Applications for New Witnesses.
PDP Supporters Jubilating, claim Delta governorship tribunal dismisses Omo-Agege, APC’s case against Oborevwori.
The Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, held in Asaba, made a decision on Wednesday to dismiss the applications submitted by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC). The applications were aimed at introducing a statistician expert witness to testify before the tribunal and seeking an extension of time for INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) subpoenaed witnesses to file their statements on oath and testify before the tribunal.
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The three-man panel, headed by Justice C.H. Ahuchaogu, also considered the opposition from the counsels representing Governor Sheriff Oborevwori (the second respondent) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (the third respondent). These opposing parties argued that granting the applications would give the petitioners an unfair advantage and go beyond the normal procedures, as the pleadings had already been concluded.
The tribunal agreed with the respondents’ arguments and cited previous cases to support their decision to dismiss the first application. They noted that it was brought 101 days after the order for inspection of election materials was granted, and the delay couldn’t be blamed on INEC.
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The tribunal emphasized that the petitioners failed to file their expert witness statement on oath in a timely manner, and thus, granting the application for an expert statistician witness would be unjust to the respondents.
Regarding the second application seeking an extension of time for INEC to file a statement on oath based on the subpoena, the panel of justices held that the petitioners provided no evidence to support their request. They stated that the tribunal cannot compel an adversary like INEC to file witness depositions for the petitioners and that the issuance of a subpoena was the appropriate action taken by the tribunal.
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The tribunal found no merit in either of the applications and subsequently dismissed them in their entirety. This ruling prevents the introduction of a new expert witness and upholds the previous procedures followed during the election petition.
Delta governorship tribunal dismisses Omo-Agege, APC’s case against Oborevwori
“In another development, supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are in a state of wild jubilation as they claim that the governorship election tribunal in Delta State today dismissed the case of former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, against Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Some PDP supporters were seen at the premises of the governorship election petition tribunal, celebrating their victory.
What we know:
As of the time of this report, the tribunal has not delivered its judgment. However, the tribunal did dismiss two applications filed by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the governorship candidate of the Delta APC, who sought to call more witnesses.”
