From Tony Osauzo andIghomuayeLucky, Benin
Despite tight security, supporters of political parties, today, clashed around the Edo State High Court premises along Sapele Road in Benin City, venue of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
The clash occurred while the Tribunal was having its inaugural sitting inside the courtroom, resulting in several of the supporters running in different directions within the court premises.
It was gathered that the clash was triggered when people believed to be supporters of some of the parties wore white fez caps and T-shirts with alleged inviting inscriptions but were opposed by other supporters.
Meanwhile, at the inaugural sitting, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, called for cooperation from all the stakeholders—the political parties, all the parties in the suit, their supporters, counsel, security agencies and the media for a successful sitting.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo is challenging the September 21, 2024, election victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Others challenging the result of the election are 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 by the other two members of the panel, Justices A.B Yusuf and A.A Adewole, also urged the counsel not to engage in unnecessary arguments that could lead to shouting and craving to sustain the conducive atmosphere he met.
“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”, the Tribunal Chairman added.
Responding, one of the lead Counsel
to 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”, he said.
On his part, lead Counsel to the governor, Oyinyechi Ikpazu, (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 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”.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin Chapter, Idemudia Osifo, while pledging cooperation from the association, expressed concerns about the space where the sitting is taking place, saying it is too small compared to the number of people present. Responding, Justice Kpochi said he had taken note of that.
At the inaugural sitting yesterday, Asue Ighodalo accompanied by the state chairman of the party, Hon Tony Aziegbemi were present in court, Okpebholo was absent while the All Progressives Congress (APC) was represented by the State Legal Adviser, Stephen Okoror accompanied by other chieftains of the party, including the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Fran Okiye.
The Court adjourned till Wednesday, December 18 in continuation of the pre-hearing sitting. Before adjoining sitting, Justice Kpochi said it was expected that all the parties would have completed all necessary preliminary actions and also agree on a pattern of hearing when full sitting commences.