Suspected thugs stormed the Edo State High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin, yesterday, disrupting the inaugural sitting of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal. The attack targeted politicians and supporters from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were pelted with stones and other dangerous objects.
The assailants, yet to be identified, injured several individuals, including members of the APC and supporters of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, who were present at the tribunal venue.
The chaotic situation was swiftly brought under control by vigilant security operatives stationed at the scene. Despite the disturbance, proceedings of the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal continued uninterrupted.
Justice Kpochi called for the cooperation of all parties involved to ensure a smooth and successful trial. He urged legal counsel to maintain mutual respect between the bar and the bench and appealed to politicians and their supporters to uphold decorum throughout the tribunal sessions.
The tribunal is set to hear seven petitions challenging the results of the September 21 governorship election, which was won by Governor Okpebholo and followed by his inauguration on November 12.
The petitions were filed by seven of the 18 political parties that participated in the election, including the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Action Alliance (AA). Each petitioner seeks to have their candidate declared the rightful winner of the poll.
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