APC, PDP Exchange Words Over Edo Election Tribunal Shooting
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have engaged in a war of words following a shooting incident at the Edo Governorship Election Tribunal in Benin on Wednesday.
In a statement, APC Chairman in Edo, Jarret Tenebe, condemned the act as “deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” claiming that PDP supporters were responsible for the violence.
He emphasized that such an incident undermines the sanctity of the judicial process.
According to a video seen by Osun Defender, gunmen, believed to be political thugs, disrupted tribunal proceedings, firing shots and shouting “give us our mandate.”
The shooting caused panic, with lawyers, tribunal members, and other attendees fleeing the scene.
Tenebe, in his statement, described the tribunal as “a sacred space where justice was meant to be administered impartially” and stated, “Any act of violence within its walls undermines the very foundation of our legal system and threatens the safety of all involved.”
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He continued, “Regardless of political affiliation, resorting to violence to resolve disputes is never justifiable. We must all condemn such actions in the strongest possible terms. Violence has no place in a civilised society, and those responsible for this heinous act must be brought to justice swiftly and without exception.”
In response, PDP’s state chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, denied the party’s involvement in the shooting.
He described the incident as “yet another in the series of clandestine efforts by the APC to frustrate the legal process and tarnish the image of the opposition party.”
Aziegbemi claimed, “The APC in Edo, who are clearly scared of justice, have continued their devious ploy to frustrate our party from reclaiming the mandate duly given to us by the good people of Edo in the last governorship election at the tribunal.”
He further accused the APC of “resorting to deploying thugs disguised in PDP-branded attire to disrupt the legal process, while pointing accusing fingers at our party.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.