Gunshots Disrupt Edo Tribunal Hearing as PDP, APC Exchange Accusations

Tensions escalate at the Edo Tribunal hearing as gunshots erupt, leading to a heated exchange of words between the PDP and APC, highlighting the volatile political climate.

Gunfire interrupted the proceedings of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which commenced its hearing on Wednesday in Benin City, the state’s capital.

Hoodlums were reportedly spotted outside the high-energy tribunal venue, where gunshots pierced the air and caused people to scramble for safety.

The tribunal began reviewing petitions contesting the Edo governorship election held on September 21, 2024, in which Monday Okpebholo from the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared victorious. Asue Ighodalo from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is leading the challenge at the tribunal.

The electoral commission, INEC, announced Okpebholo as the winner of the election with 291,667 votes. Ighodalo reportedly received 247,274 votes, while Olumide Akpata from the Labour Party (LP) finished a distant third with 22,763 votes.

In the meantime, a war of words has erupted between the PDP and APC in the South-South state over the shooting incident that occurred at the tribunal venue.

The state’s APC Chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, claimed that the incident he described as “disturbing and unacceptable” was perpetrated by PDP members.

He stated, “The Tribunal is a revered place where justice should be delivered impartially. Any act of violence within this space undermines the core principles of our legal system and jeopardizes everyone’s safety.”

No matter one’s political stance, using violence to settle disagreements is never acceptable. We should all denounce such actions in the strongest language possible.

“Violence has no role in a civilized society, and those accountable for this appalling act must be promptly brought to justice without exception.”

Anthony Aziegbemi, the Chairman of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, denied the allegations made by the APC and accused them of hiring thugs to cause disruptions at the tribunal.

Aziegbemi stated that the APC is evidently fearful of justice and has persistently engaged in deceitful tactics to prevent their party from reclaiming the mandate given by the people of Edo State during the last governorship election at the Tribunal. They have now taken to using thugs, disguised in attire branded with PDP labels, to disrupt legal proceedings while shifting blame onto our party.

We completely distance ourselves from today’s shooting incident at the Governorship Election Tribunal venue in Benin City, Edo State capital. We firmly state that this disgraceful event is yet another covert attempt by the APC to obstruct the legal process and damage our party’s reputation.