By DADA AYOKHAI
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship candidate in the September 21st Guber election, Barry Asue Ighodalo was the cynosure of all eyes along with his legal team at the Inaugural sitting of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Benin.
Barr Ighodalo along with other governorship candidates of some other political parties in the election are challenging the declaration of Senator Monday Okpebholo as winner of the 21 September, 2024 governorship election.
Seven political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party, Action Alliance, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Allied Peoples Movement, Action Democratic Party, and Zenith Labour Party, filed the petitions.
The three-man Tribunal is chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi (, K. B. Yusuf and A. A. Adewole.
In his inaugural address, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, solicited for the cooperation of the parties in the case, particularly the legal representations.
Kpochi who lauded the calmness in the courtroom, however raised concerns on the influx of parties supporters into the premises.
He said: “We will like to crave for your cooperation. I can see this place is calm and hope it will continue like this.
“However, I saw many people outside and wondered what it was all about.
“On our part, we will say we will cooperate with you. You are senior lawyers. Do not shout at us and we will not shout at you either. If you notice any issue, draw our attention and we will listen.”
Responding on behalf of others, leader of the PDP legal team, Ken Mozia, (SAN), leading the PDP legal team, and Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), who led Governor Okpebholo’s team, promised that the parties would be professional in their trade before the Tribunal.
They assured the Tribunal that the supporters would be engaged so as to check the rowdy atmosphere during the duration of the Tribunal.
Subsequently, the PDP case against the Governor went into pre-hearing, where all parties adopted their exchanged written responses.
Thereafter, the Tribunal adjourned to 18 December for hearing of preliminary motions in the case as well as adoption of addresses of the six others.
