joshuaEdo Election Tribunal: Chairman, Kpochi Calls For Cooperation Of All Parties Towards Successful Trial
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The Chairman of the 2024 Edo Election Tribunal, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, on monday, solicited the cooperation of all parties towards a smooth and successful trial
while urging counsels to exercise mutual respect between the bar and bench.
Justice Kpochi gave the admonition at the opening formalities at the tribunal venue in the Edo State High Court complex in Benin City.
Justice Kpochi also called on counsels to prevail on their supporters to maintain decorum during proceedings.
On his part, counsel to the Petitioners represented by Mr. ken Mozia SAN, and the Respondents represented by Mr. Onyeachi Ikpeazu both pledged to fully cooperate with the tribunal for a smooth trial.
The chairman of the NBA Benin branch, Idemudia Osifo Esq, who spoke for the bar, said they were ready to provide any assistance if called upon.
On security, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the court area, Mr. Emmanuel Ehanhoro representing the Edo State Commissioner of Police told the court that the Police was ready and already deployed for the tribunal, a view also held by the Edo State director DSS who was represented by the legal officer in court.
Also called upon was the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who pledged to report only what transpired in court.
The Petitioners, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the party’s Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi and the PDP governorship candidate in the September 21st Edo gubernatorial poll, Asue Ighodalo attended the inaugural sitting of the tribunal in Benin.
It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had on Sunday, September 22, 2024 declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC winner of the poll, after pulling 291,667 votes to defeat candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo and Barr. Olumide Akpata who scored 247, 274 and 22,763 votes respectively .
Dissatisfied with the declaration of INEC, the PDP and six other political parties who participated in the poll approached the tribunal to challenge the declaration of the electoral umpire
The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, is expected to hear seven petitions filed by different political parties and their candidates.
The PDP in particular, is asking the tribunal to nullify the result and instead declare its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, the winner of the election.
There was, however, a politically tensed environment as some party supporters clashed at the High court premises in Benin, Edo State as sitting/pre-hearing commenced on the petitions challenging the declaration of the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship poll held in the state
The supporters of different political parties were seen running in different directions within the court premises.
