Although it has not yet provided an explanation, the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has formally announced its relocation from Benin City to the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos.
A statement written by Tribunal Secretary Mu’azu Bagudu and released on Friday, January 24, 2025, reportedly confirmed the relocation.
All parties to the lawsuit have been notified of this change in location, the statement said.
“With effect from Monday, January 27, 2025, I am directed to notify all parties that the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which was previously located in Benin City, Edo State, has been moved to Abuja at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Airport Road, Abuja,” the letter said, according to The report.
It was recalled that on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, in Benin City, the state capital, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal began hearings when shooting broke out.
It has been reported that aggressive behavior was witnessed outside the prominent tribunal site, where shooting sparked mayhem and forced participants to evacuate for their protection.
After the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Monday Okpebholo was proclaimed the winner of the Edo gubernatorial election on September 21, 2024, the tribunal started considering petitions challenging the outcome.
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In the tribunal, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the main adversary.
Okpebholo was declared the election victor by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 291,667 votes, followed by Ighodalo with 247,274 and the Labour Party’s (LP) Olumide Akpata in third place with 22,763 votes.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) traded allegations about who was responsible for the violence following the shooting incident at the tribunal venue.
