The Edo State chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed on Friday over the relocation of the state’s governorship election petition tribunal from Benin City to Abuja.
A notice dated January 24, 2025, and signed by the tribunal secretary, Mu’azu Ibrahim, informed parties about the relocation.
The notice stated:
“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.”
While the notice did not explicitly state the reasons for the relocation, it is speculated that recent disturbances at the court premises may have influenced the decision.
APC’s Reaction
Edo State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, alleged that the PDP was behind the tribunal’s relocation.
He said:
“The relocation was due to pressure from the PDP camp. First, they claimed that their witnesses did not feel free in the environment to come and give evidence. That is a far cry from the truth because their witnesses have access to the court.
“Principally, they have discovered to their serious surprise that the witnesses they so much relied on have been reduced to mere nothingness in court, as they have not been able to add value to the PDP case with their pieces of evidence.
“They also feel that the media attention their fumbling witnesses are getting is not doing their case any good and they have been insisting that they want to go to an environment where interest and publicity will be reduced. Not too many people will want to go to Abuja for the case.
“We are not deterred by this. We have a compact case and we have a legal team who are vast in handling election matters. We are not disturbed. We will meet them headlong and our legal team is ready to meet them headlong at the tribunal.”
PDP’s Response
In contrast, Chris Nehikhare, publicity secretary of the PDP’s caretaker committee in Edo State, argued that the tribunal’s relocation stemmed from the APC’s alleged attempts to influence proceedings.
He stated:
“Given the nature of the case and the volume of concrete evidence presented by the witnesses, the tribunal reckoned that it would be unsafe to continue the proceedings in Benin City, following undue pressure and several threats by notable APC chieftains in Edo State to disrupt the tribunal proceedings.
“It is believed that a neutral and more secured location not under the control of state and nonstate actors was necessary in the interests of justice.”
Tribunal to Resume in Abuja
The tribunal is scheduled to resume sitting in Abuja at the National Judicial Institute on Tuesday, January 27, 2025.