Gunshots were fired near the venue of the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led, three-member Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday morning, sending lawyers, litigants, politicians, and reporters scrambling for safety.
The unexpected violence caused widespread panic as people fled in fear of being struck by stray bullets.
The disturbance occurred at the Edo High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin, where the tribunal was convened.
However, swift intervention by fully armed security operatives helped restore order and allowed the tribunal proceedings to continue without further interruption.
APC Chairman Condemns The Violence
Edo State APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe strongly condemned the gunshots, describing the incident as deeply disturbing and unacceptable. Tenebe emphasized that the tribunal, as a sacred space, should be free from violence.
Tenebe said, “The tribunal is a sacred space, where justice is meant to be administered impartially. Any act of violence within its walls undermines the very foundation of our legal system and threatens the safety of all involved.
“Regardless of political affiliation, resorting to violence to resolve disputes is never justifiable. We must all condemn the shootings in the strongest possible terms.”
Tenebe further stated that violence has no place in a civilized society and called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the shooting.
“The people that were responsible for the heinous act must be brought to justice swiftly and without exception,” he added.
The incident comes amid ongoing petitions filed at the tribunal following the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo. Senator Monday Okpebholo, of the APC, was declared the winner of the election and inaugurated as governor on November 12, 2024.
Seven out of the 18 political parties that participated in the election have filed petitions at the tribunal, including 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).
These parties are demanding that their candidates be declared the rightful winners of the highly-contested poll.