Breaking: Anxiety as Edo Election Tribunal Suddenly Relocates to Abuja Amid PDP's Quest to Sack APC
- The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member Edo governorship election petitions tribunal has relocated to Abuja
- According to a notice by its secretary, Mua’azu Bagudu, on Friday, January 24, the tribunal will now sit at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Airport Road, Abuja
- Although no reason was given for the relocation, it could be attributed to the tension and feelings of insecurity at the tribunal's premises in Benin City
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics, elections, and governance in Nigeria.
Benin City, Edo state - The Edo state governorship election petition tribunal has announced its relocation from Benin City to the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja.
In a notice dated Friday, January 24, 2025, and signed by the tribunal secretary, Mu’azu Bagudu, parties to the case were informed of the relocation.
Source: Facebook
The Punch noted the update in a report on Friday evening, January 24.
The notice partly reads:
“I am directed to notify all parties that the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has been relocated to Abuja at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Airport Road, Abuja, effective from Monday, 27th January 2025.”
Legit.ng reports that amid anxiety, no reason was given for the relocation.
Edo tribunal relocation: PDP chieftain fumes
'Demola Olarewaju, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was behind the tribunal relocation. He raised the alarm about possible favouritism.
Olarewaju wrote on X:
"Been closely following everything from the EdoTribunal and Asue Ighodalo came with a bounty of evidence to prove APCNEC’s rigging.
"The APC by orchestrated violence has now shamelessly manipulated the Tribunal into relocating to Abuja from Edo to attempt to influence the outcome."
Legal tussle of 2024 Edo election
In the litigation concerning the 2024 Edo state governorship election, witnesses of the PDP alleged irregularities in three LGAs during the poll.
Recall the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo, candidate of the APC, as the winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state.
Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who got 247,274 votes.
Olumide Akpata, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), polled a distant third with 22,763 votes.
Ighodalo and the PDP are challenging Okpebholo’s victory at the tribunal.
The tribunal panel has already started hearing the case in Edo, but going by the update on Friday, January 24, 2025, attention turns to the Nigerian capital city, Abuja.
Read more Edo news:
- NLC reacts as Edo governor begins payment of end-of-year bonus
- Year in review: 'PDP to win Edo election,' list of failed prophecies of 2024 emerges
- Tension as Edo governor sacks all public service commissioners, orders immediate handover
Gunshots at Edo governorship tribunal
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that gunshots erupted near the venue of the Justice Kpochi-led three-member Edo state governorship election petitions tribunal, causing widespread panic.
Lawyers, litigants, politicians, and reporters scrambled for safety to avoid being hit by stray bullets.
Edo APC Chairman Jarret Tenebe reacted to the incident.
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Source: Legit.ng
