Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Dr Asue Ighodalo, on Monday stormed the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in the premises of the Edo State High Court, along Sapele Road, Benin City, with his team of lawyers in a bid to prove that he won the election.
At the inaugural sitting, Tribunal chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, solicited for the cooperation of all stakeholders including political parties, supporters, counsels, security agencies and the media so that it could record a successful outing.
Ighodalo had promptly rejected the results of the election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday September 22, 2024, and subsequently filed a petition at the Tribunal challenging the electoral umpire’s decision.
INEC announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, as winner of the election with 291,667 votes while it announced 247, 274 as votes for Ighodalo to place second.
Others parties challenging the result of the election include the Accord Party (AC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Justice Kpochi, who was flanked by the other two members of the panel of judges, Justices AB Yusuf and AA Adewole, also urged the counsels to the parties not to engage in unnecessary arguments that could lead to a shouting match. He craved for the continuation of the serene and conducive atmosphere within the precinct of the tribunal.
“I am impressed by the conducive and calm environment I am seeing and going forward, I will want this to continue, I appeal to you all that let us put our eyes on the ball so that we can have serene proceedings.
“You have SANs and very senior lawyers here, nobody is going to shout at you, please don’t also shout at us, if there are areas you feel not comfortable about, please draw our attention to it.”
In his response, one of the lead counsels for Ighodalo, Ken Mozia, SAN, pledged their commitment to the proceedings as far as other parties would do the same, adding that: “We will do our best to represent our client and we have admonished his supporters to be civil and not to even be in the court premises and we will do our best to cooperate with you.”
On his part, lead counsel to the APC candidate Okpebholo, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, said they were ready to cooperate with the panel and other parties in the suits to ensure a smooth exercise. “We sue for understanding and pledge to work together, we have done cases, we have also done cases against each other, so we know ourselves and we will give our maximum cooperation for this.”
Ighodalo was accompanied by the state PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Hon. Tony Aziegbemi and other party chieftains and supporters.
The Tribunal, thereafter, adjourned till Wednesday, December 18 in continuation of the pre-hearing sitting when, according to Justice Kpochi, all the parties would have completed all necessary preliminary actions and also agree on a pattern of hearing when the proper sitting commences.