Suspected APC Thugs Invade Edo High Court, Disrupt Governorship Election Tribunal Session

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal began its pre-hearing session in Benin on Monday, reviewing petitions challenging the results of the September 21, 2024, governorship election, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, the session was disrupted by violence when suspected APC thugs stormed the Edo State High Court.

Supporters of seven political parties contesting the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were attacked by suspected APC thugs outside the courtroom.

Read Also: Thugs ‘Targeting Election Petition Documents’ Attack PDP Secretariat In Edo

In response, security forces barricaded the court entrance and set up roadblocks along the routes leading to the venue.

On September 22, 2024, INEC declared APC candidate Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the election, securing 291,667 votes. He defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes, and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who received 22,763 votes.

The PDP, along with six other parties, filed petitions before the tribunal, which is headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, seeking to overturn the results.

The PDP specifically requested the tribunal to annul the election results and declare Ighodalo the winner.

The tribunal is set to address seven separate petitions, including those filed by the Accord Party, Alliance Party, Social Democratic Party, Allied Peoples Movement, Action Democratic Party, and Zenith Labour Party.

The National Judicial Council inaugurated the tribunal one week before the election, with its Secretary, Muazu Bagudu, confirming the pre-hearing schedule.