December 9, 2024
By Idris Buba
The Edo state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Monday had its inaugural sitting where its chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, called for cooperation from all the stakeholders for a successful outing.
There was tight security, around the Edo State High Court premises along Sapele Road in Benin City, venue of the tribunal.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodalo and Others candidates of political parties including Accord Party (AC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are challenging the September 21, 2024 election victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Flanked by the two other members of the panel of judges, Justices AB Yusuf and AA Adewole, Justice Kpochi, urged the counsels to the parties not to engage in unnecessary arguments.
READ MORE; Edo state PDP Files Petition Against APC Governor–Elect At Election Tribunal.
“You have SANs and very senior lawyers here, nobody is going to shout at you, please don’t also shout at us, if there are areas you feel not comfortable about, please draw our attention to it.”
Responding, one of the lead counsels to Ighodalo, Ken Mozia SAN, pledged their commitment to the proceedings as far as other parties would do the same.
While the lead counsel to the APC candidate Okpebholo, Oyinyechi Ikpazu (SAN), said they were ready to cooperate with the panel and other parties in the suits to ensure a smooth exercise. “
The Benin City chapter chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA), Idemudia Osifo, pledged cooperation from the association, but expressed concerns about the space where the Tribunal sitting was taking place, saying it’s too small compared to the number of people present .
READ MORE; INEC presents certificates of return to Edo state governor elect.
While Ighodalo, accompanied by the state chairman of the PDP, Hon. Tony Aziegbemi, was present in court, Governor Okpebholo was, however, absent while the APC was represented by the State Legal Adviser, Stephen Okororl accompanied by other chieftains of the ruling party including the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye.
The Tribunal, has adjourned till Wednesday, December 18 in continuation of the pre-hearing sitting when, according to Justice Kpochi, all the parties would have completed all necessary preliminary actions
