The Edo governorship election tribunal has been relocated to Abuja following a shooting incident in Benin City. The January 15 attack disrupted tribunal proceedings, sparking a blame game between APC and PDP. The relocation ensures security as the PDP challenges APC's victory in the September election.
The Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has been relocated to Abuja following a security scare involving gunfire. The tribunal, initially situated in Benin City, will now hold proceedings at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) on Airport Road, Abuja. This decision was confirmed in a statement by Mua’azu Bagudu, the tribunal’s secretary.
The move comes after a January 15 incident where a man was captured on video firing a locally made weapon outside the tribunal venue. The act caused widespread panic, with lawyers, tribunal members, and attendees fleeing for safety.
The aftermath of the incident saw the state’s leading political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), engaging in a blame game. Jarrett Tenebe, APC’s Edo chairman, condemned the violence, alleging that individuals in PDP-branded clothing were behind the attack, which he described as an affront to judicial integrity.
Conversely, Tony Aziegbemi, chairman of the PDP in Edo, refuted these claims, accusing the APC of orchestrating the disruption to discredit the PDP and hinder the tribunal's process.
The tribunal is currently deliberating a petition filed by Asue Ighodalo, the PDP’s candidate in the September 2024 governorship election. Ighodalo is contesting the victory of Monday Okpebholo of the APC, who was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
