The relocation of the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal from Benin City to Abuja is a decisive move by the judiciary to ensure justice is delivered in a secure and impartial environment, free from intimidation and undue influence.
This relocation became necessary after APC thugs, desperate to suppress the truth, unleashed violence and threats in Benin City to create a toxic atmosphere aimed at derailing the tribunal. By moving proceedings to the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, the judiciary has reaffirmed its resolve to shield the process from the APC’s antics and ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done.
Rather than undermining the process, this relocation strengthens it. The PDP has publicly welcomed the move, as it guarantees that the tribunal can focus solely on the overwhelming merits of Asue Ighodalo’s petition without the shadow of local interference. Built on meticulous legal strategy and incontrovertible evidence of electoral fraud, the petition explains the PDP’s confidence—and the APC’s growing panic.
For months, the APC has attempted to obstruct justice, from blocking BVAS inspections to intimidating witnesses and now resorting to brazen violence. These tactics reflect their fear of a fair process and their inability to defend a stolen mandate. The relocation denies the APC the leverage they sought in Benin City, placing the tribunal in a neutral, secure setting where facts and evidence—not threats—will decide the outcome.
The APC’s attempt to spin this relocation as a victory is both premature and misguided. Their celebrations mask a growing dread of what the tribunal’s impartiality will reveal. Justice is on course, and their desperation will not alter the facts or derail the process.
For the PDP and all supporters of democracy, this relocation represents a bold step forward. It reaffirms that no amount of intimidation can suppress the truth. The judiciary’s commitment to fairness, transparency, and the rule of law ensures that the stolen mandate will be exposed.
To the APC, this relocation is a blow. To the PDP, it is a sign of what’s coming.
Joy is coming!