Despite the promise to call about 28 witnesses, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has closed its defence in the petition challenging its victory at the September 21 governorship election in Edo State with only four witnesses.
   
The closure came as a surprise yesterday, a day after the APC, which is the 3rd Respondent in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo, had called in four witnesses, who gave evidence in respect of the governorship polls.

Recall that the three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi had, on Wednesday, adjourned the hearing till yesterday to enable the APC to tender some documents it claimed its remaining witnesses would rely on in giving their evidence.
   
Also, recall that the APC had told the court that it would be calling 28 witnesses. But after calling four witnesses on Wednesday, it asked for an adjournment till yesterday to enable it to call its remaining witnesses, who would rely on documents yet to be tendered before the tribunal. 
When the matter came up yesterday, Ferdinand Orbih, who argued the case of the 3rd Respondent, informed the court that his client is still awaiting documents from Benin City, which its witnesses would use in their evidence.
   
He however announced that his client would be closing its case because the plethora of documents tendered, the evidence of the petitioners during cross-examination by the respondents and the evidence of the 3rd Respondent have done justice to their case, as such, makes it unnecessary to call further witnesses.
   
“Taking all these factors into consideration, we are happy at this stage to close the 3rd Respondent’s case with the leave of my lordships,” Orbih submitted.
 
Since the petitioners did not object, Justice Kpochi in a short ruling granted the request and fixed March 3 for parties to adopt their final written addresses in the matter.