The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin City, Edo State has announced the relocation of its sitting to Abuja.
The announcement was made by the Tribunal Secretary, Muazu Bagudu after a PDP Data Analyst and Expert witness stormed the court to give multiple evidence in proof of the massive rigging that took place in favour of APC in the September 21st Governorship Election in Edo State.
The star witness had proceeded to adopt his written statements on oath amid objections and protests by Counsels to the Respondents, who were obviously scared stiff of the volume of evidence presented by the Expert witness before the Tribunal.
After giving his testimony which lasted for hours, Counsels to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents refused to start Cross examination and pleaded for adjournment because they were ill prepared to take on the Expert witness.
The Tribunal agreed to the adjournment in the interest of fair hearing, but indicated that this would be the last court sitting to be held in Benin.
The Secretary of the Tribunal confirmed soon after that the Tribunal had been moved to Abuja.
Sources indicate that given the nature of the case and the volume of concrete evidence presented by the witness, the Tribunal reckoned that it will 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 more neutral venue without the influence of a governor who is an interested party would be in the interests of Justice.
It may be recalled that the APC State Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, had penultimate week, while appearing as a guest on NewsCentral TV, publicly threatened to arrest and detain PDP witnesses who will show up to give evidence against the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo and APC.
The Tribunal will resume sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
