Gunshots rang out near the venue of the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday morning, creating widespread panic among those present.
Lawyers, litigants, politicians, and reporters scrambled for safety as they feared being struck by stray bullets. However, the situation was quickly brought under control thanks to the swift intervention of heavily-armed security operatives.
Following their efforts, calm was restored, allowing the tribunal sitting at the Edo High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin, to continue its proceedings.
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The tribunal is currently hearing petitions filed by seven of the 18 political parties that participated in the September 21, 2024 governorship election. These parties include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Action Alliance (AA), all of which are seeking a declaration of their respective candidates as the rightful winner of the fiercely contested poll.
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has vowed to challenge the results of the election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, as the winners.
This commitment to contest the results was outlined in a communiqué released following a meeting of the party’s leadership, including Ighodalo, which was convened by the Chairman of the State Caretaker Committee, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi. The communiqué was signed by the Secretary of the Edo State PDP Caretaker Committee, Henry Tenebe.
