Breaking: Edo Election Tribunal Transferred to Abuja

The Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has formally announced its relocation from Benin City to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, albeit it has not yet provided an explanation.
According to reports, a statement signed by Tribunal Secretary Mu’azu Bagudu and released on Friday, January 24, 2025, announced the relocation.
The statement claims that everyone engaged in the case has been made aware of the change in location.
“I am required to inform all parties that, as of Monday, January 27, 2025, the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal located in Benin City, Edo State, has been moved to Abuja at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Airport Road, Abuja,” the letter said, according to the report.

Recall that the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal began hearings on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, in Benin City, the state capital, but was stopped by gunfire.

There have been reports of violent behavior outside the prominent tribunal site, where shooting sparked pandemonium and forced spectators to evacuate for their protection.

Petitioners challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, Edo governorship election, in which All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Monday Okpebholo was proclaimed the winner, were first heard by the tribunal.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member Asue Ighodalo is the main adversary in the tribunal.

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Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) came in third place with 22,763 votes, followed by Ighodalo with 247,274 votes and Okpebholo with 291,667 votes, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) traded allegations about who was responsible for the violence following the shooting incident at the tribunal location.