Suspected All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs stormed the Edo State High Court in Benin on Monday in an attempt to disrupt the pre-hearing session on the validity of the September 21 governorship election results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Their attack on the courtroom created some panic among lawyers, journalists and supporters of seven political parties challenging APC’s Monday Okpebholo.
However, security agents subsequently secured the court premises, blocking the entrance and setting up roadblocks along routes leading to the court to prevent further disruption.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC winner of the election, 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
Not satisfied with the election result declaration, the PDP and six other political parties who participated in the poll approached the Tribunal to challenge the declaration of the electoral umpire.
The PDP in particular, is asking the Tribunal to nullify the result and instead, declare its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, the winner of the election.
The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, is expected to hear seven petitions filed by different political parties and their candidates.
