Edo Gov’Ship Election Tribunal: APC, PDP Trade Words Over Shooting Incident
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) and the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today trade words over the shooting incident that occurred within the venue of the Governorship Election Tribunal in Benin City.
The Acting State Chairman of APC, Jarret Tenebe in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin, accused the PDP of disturbing the tribunal proceedings, saying that the act of violence is unacceptable.
“Today’s shooting incident within the venue of the Governorship Election Tribunal in Benin City involving members of the opposition PDP is a deeply disturbing and unacceptable act of violence.
“The Tribunal is a sacred space where justice is meant to be administered impartially. Any act of violence within its walls undermines the very foundation of our legal system and threatens the safety of all involved,” Tenebe said.
Tenebe expressed grave concern over the need to resort to violence, saying, “Regardless of political affiliation, resorting to violence to resolve disputes is never justifiable. We must all condemn such actions in the strongest possible terms.
He noted that violence has no place in a civilized society, and those responsible for the heinous act must be brought to justice swiftly and without exception.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also accused the APC of a devious ploy to frustrate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from reclaiming the mandate duly given to it by the good people of Edo State in the last governorship election at the Tribunal.
Chairman, Caretaker Committee of PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State are clearly scared of justice and have now resorted to deploying thugs disguised in PDP-branded attire to disrupt the legal process, while pointing accusing fingers at the opposition party.
Aziegbemi said, “We strongly dissociate ourselves from the shooting incident that occurred today at the venue of the Governorship Election Tribunal in Benin City, the Edo State capital, and want to unequivocally state that this shameful incident is yet another in the series of clandestine efforts by the APC to frustrate the legal process and tarnish the image of our party.
“Why would the PDP attempt to disrupt the only opportunity it has to reclaim the mandate given to it by the people of Edo State during the last governorship election?
“The PDP is aware that its only pathway to justice is through the legal process, so it would be utterly senseless for anyone to suggest that the party would deploy thugs to disrupt this very process and jeopardize its own chances.
Aziegbemi urged the APC to exhibit more intelligence when concocting lies and peddling falsehoods to advance their devious plans, adding that, “No one needs to be told that it is the APC that is orchestrating this chaos, resorting to disguising their thugs in PDP-branded attire in a desperate and poorly executed attempt to mislead the public.”
He added that the PDP directed all its supporters and members to stay away from today’s tribunal proceedings saying that, “This directive was strictly adhered to because we anticipated APC’s plans to instigate violence and disrupt the proceedings. Unfortunately, we did not foresee that they would stoop so low, employing thugs and masking them in PDP-branded attires in their desperate attempt to cling to power at all costs.”
