Seven complaints contesting Governor Monday Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21 election will be heard by the Edo Governorship Election complaints Tribunal, which has already started hearing cases in Benin.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and six other political parties filed the petitions. The Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) are the other parties listed in the cause list.
The three-member panel’s chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, called for the collaboration of all parties involved in the case, especially the legal representatives, in his inaugural remarks. Kpochi praised the courtroom’s serenity but expressed worry about the number of party supporters entering the building.
“We would like to request your cooperation. I can see this place is calm and hope it will continue like this. However, I saw many people outside and wondered what it was all about.
“On my part, we will say we will cooperate with you. You are senior lawyers. Do not shout at us and we will not shout at you either. If you notice any issue, draw our attention and we will listen.”
Other members of the tribunal includes Justices K. B. Yusuf and A. A. Adewole. Responding, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ken Mozia, who led the PDP legal team, and Onyechi Ikpeazu, who led the Okpebholo’s team, promised that the parties would be professional in their trade before the tribunal.
In order to prevent chaos and disturbances during the court process, they promised the tribunal that the supporters would be involved. The PDP case against the governor then proceeded to a pre-hearing, during which time both parties accepted the written responses they had exchanged. In order to hear the case’s preliminary motions and approve the addresses of the six other parties, the tribunal postponed until December 18.
