January 27, (THEWILL) – The Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has announced its relocation from Benin City to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The Secretary of the Tribunal, Mu’azu Ibrahim informed parties in the tribunal about the relocation in a notice dated January 24, 2025.
The notice read in part: “I am directed to notify all parties that the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has been relocated to Abuja at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Airport Road, Abuja, effective from Monday, January 27, 2025.”
No reason was given for the relocation of the tribunal, but it may be connected with the disturbances that have occurred at the court premises in the past.
Expectedly, reactions trailed the relocation notice.
The relocation has been hailed as a decisive and positive development in the journey toward justice.
Team Asue Media Organisation (TAMO) in a statement signed by Erhabor Emokpae on at the weekend in Benin City, said while the reason for the relocation has not been officially stated, “It is clear that this move, one we welcome, ensures a more secure and neutral environment for the proceedings, free from the pressures and tensions surrounding the tribunal in Edo State.”
TAMO added that “In line with our continuing commitment to truth and justice, this relocation is a reaffirmation of our firm belief in the judiciary’s dedication to fairness and transparency.
“By moving the tribunal to the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, the process is shielded from local interference, ensuring that justice will be based solely on evidence and legal merit.
“Despite their public bravado, the APC’s recent pattern of obstruction—from preventing BVAS inspections to witness intimidation and threats of violence—has repeatedly shown their only mission: to tilt the judicial scales in their favour and subvert due process.
“This relocation removes any leverage they might have hoped to exert locally, allowing the tribunal to operate in a secure and impartial setting.
“We firmly believe that Asue Ighodalo’s case, founded on evidence and meticulous legal preparation, remains unshaken. The overwhelming strength of the petition continues to give confidence to all who value democracy and the rule of law.
“This relocation ensures that the case will expose the full truth of what happened in the election. We urge all supporters of truth and justice to remain resolute as the journey to Justice proceeds apace,” TAMO stated.
However, Edo State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, accused the PDP of orchestrating the relocation.
He said, “The relocation was due to pressure from the PDP camp. First, they claimed that their witnesses did not feel free in the environment to come and give evidence. That is a far cry from the truth because their witnesses have access to the court.
“Principally, they have discovered to their serious surprise that the witnesses they so much relied on have been reduced to mere nothingness in court, as they have not been able to add value to the PDP case with their pieces of evidence.
“They also feel that the media attention their fumbling witnesses are getting is not doing their case any good and they have been insisting that they want to go to an environment where interest and publicity will be reduced. Not too many people will want to go to Abuja for the case.
“We are not deterred by this. We have a compact case and we have a legal team who are vast in handling election matters. We are not disturbed. We will meet them headlong and our legal team is ready to meet them headlong at the tribunal.”
“It is believed that a neutral and more secured location not under the control of state and non-state actors was necessary in the interests of justice.”
Uwadiae-Igbinigie’s PDP counterpart who is the publicity secretary of the state PDP caretaker committee, Chris Nehikhare, said the concrete evidence presented by his party, which has led to undue pressure from APC chieftains, must have led to the relocation of the tribunal.
He said, “Given the nature of the case and the volume of concrete evidence presented by the witnesses, the tribunal reckoned that it would be unsafe to continue the proceedings in Benin City, following undue pressure and several threats by notable APC chieftains in Edo State to disrupt the tribunal proceedings.
“It is believed that a neutral and more secured location not under the control of state and non-state actors was necessary in the interests of justice.”
The truth of the matter is that tribunal members feared for their lives as political thugs have often disrupted proceedings with the police looking on helplessly. The tribunal therefore thought it wise to move to a safer place where proceedings can go on peacefully.
Tribunals with similar cases in the past have taken the same option of moving to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as a viable alternative. In that case, only litigants, counsels and witnesses would be entertained with the possibility of heavy sanction for anyone causing further disruptions.
The tribunal will resume sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
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