Political tension escalates in Edo State as APC and PDP exchange accusations over alleged shooting incident at the governorship election petition tribunal in Benin City, where Governor Okpebholo’s victory is being contested.
It was an unprecedented escalation of a political crisis when the two main political parties in Nigeria – the APC and PDP attributed violence on each other at the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday, January 15 2025.
The tribunal led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi opened proceedings on petitions which questioned the victory of APC’s Governor Monday Okpebholo in the September 21, 2024 governorship election. Asue Ighodalo of the People’s Democratic Party; six other political parties; and their respective candidates opposed the INEC decision, which put forward Okpebholo as the winner.
I described today’s shooting incident within the venue of the Governorship Election Tribunal in Benin City involving members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a deeply disturbing and unacceptable act of violence, – said the APC Acting Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, in a press release.
The Tribunal is a holy ground where one is supposed to seek justice without bias as everybody else does.” Tenebe added: “Any incident of violence within that facility negates everything our legal system stands for and puts the lives of the participants in jeopardy.”
Alhaji produced more when he said, “Whether we are politicians of the APC or the PDP or any other political party, it is wrong and unlawful to use violence to settle scores.” We all have to come out strongly against actions of this nature. No society-sanctioned can endure violence and those who are behind such appalling acts must be made to face the law without any compromise.
In a counter-statement, PDP’s caretaker committee chairman, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi, dismissed the allegations of APC and counter-accused the ruling party of hiring” unknown gunmen” to fire bullets to disrupt the running of the tribunal.
It has caused security concerns in the tribunal proceeding since many petitions have been launched to quash Governor Okpebholo’s victory in the September 2024 election. Continuing with the case, each side continues to assert the other is the source and author of the day’s violence.
