Panic was witnessed on Wednesday morning after sound of gunshots was heard near the venue of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Calm was later restored by security operatives but not before the gunshots sent many lawyers, politicians and reporters scampering for safety at the venue.
After the incident, the tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, then sat at the Edo High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin, the state capital.
Condemning the incident, the Edo Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, said violence should never be the means of resolving disputes.
He 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.”
He concluded by calling on security operatives to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The tribunal is hearing the petition filed by several political parties against the victory of the former representative of Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Monday Okpebholo, in the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo.
Politics of Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Source: www.mynigeria.com
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