Suspected thugs on Monday stormed the venue of the inaugural sitting of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal at Edo State High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin.
All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) politicians and their supporters were attacked and pelted with stones and other dangerous items by yet-to-be-identified suspected thugs.
Members of the APC and supporters of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo were at the venue of the tribunal’s sitting, when suspected hoodlums suddenly invaded the area and injured some persons.
The rowdy situation was quickly brought under control by the vigilant and fully-armed security operatives.
The sitting of Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal went on during the suspected thugs’ invasion.
Justice Kpochi called for cooperation of all parties, towards a smooth and successful trial, and urged the counsel to exercise mutual respect between the bar and the bench.
The tribunal chairman asked politicians and their supporters to maintain decorum during proceedings to hear the seven petitions from the results of the September 21 governorship election won by Okpebholo, who was inaugurated on November 12.
Seven of the 18 parties that participated in the election, who filed the petitions were Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Action Alliance (AA). They wanted their candidates to be declared winner of the poll.