There was chaos at the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal in Benin City on Wednesday, January 15, following the sound of gunshots.
Videos circulating on social media showed a man dressed in a white shirt, brown shorts, white face cap, and a black nose mask, firing a locally made gun into the air while shouting, “You must give us our mandate.”
The incident caused panic, prompting lawyers, tribunal members, and attendees to flee for safety.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have since exchanged accusations over the shooting. Edo APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe condemned the violence, calling it a deeply troubling act that undermined the integrity of the judicial process. He accused PDP supporters of being behind the attack, alleging that thugs in PDP-branded clothing disrupted the tribunal proceedings.
“Today’s shooting incident at the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal is a deeply disturbing and unacceptable act of violence,” Tenebe said. “The tribunal is a sacred institution for the impartial delivery of justice. Any act of violence in this setting undermines the foundation of our legal system and jeopardizes the safety of everyone involved. Violence is never a solution, and we must all condemn it in the strongest possible terms. Those responsible must be swiftly brought to justice.”
The PDP, however, denied any involvement. State Chairman Tony Aziegbemi accused the APC of orchestrating the disruption to derail the legal process and damage the PDP’s reputation. He alleged that the APC used political thugs to create chaos as part of a “devious ploy to manipulate the outcome of the governorship election.”
