Gunshots rang out near the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal venue in Benin on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, causing widespread panic.
The incident occurred near the Edo High Court Complex on Sapele Road, where the tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, was sitting to hear petitions challenging the outcome of the governorship election on September 21, 2024.
Lawyers, litigants, politicians, and reporters scrambled for safety, desperate to avoid being hit by stray bullets. The sudden eruption of gunfire sent shockwaves through the crowded area, with many people fleeing in terror.
However, swift intervention by fully armed security operatives restored calm, allowing the tribunal to continue its proceedings. The security personnel’s prompt response helped prevent any injuries or fatalities.
Edo APC Chairman Jarret Tenebe was quick to condemn the incident, describing the shootings as “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.” In a statement, Tenebe said there was a need to maintain peace and order, particularly in a sacred space like the tribunal.
“The tribunal is a sacred space where justice is meant to be administered impartially,” Tenebe said. “Any act of violence within its walls undermines the very foundation of our legal system and threatens the safety of all involved. Regardless of political affiliation, resorting to violence to resolve disputes is never justifiable. We must all condemn the shootings in the strongest possible terms.“
Tenebe also stressed that violence has no place in a civilized society and demanded that those responsible for the incident be brought to justice swiftly and without exception.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Gov. Monday Okpebholo, inaugurated on November 12 last year, won the September 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
However, seven of the 18 political parties that participated in the election have filed petitions challenging the poll’s outcome at the tribunal.
The petitioners, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), are seeking to have their candidates declared the winners of the election.
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