The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of sending thugs to disrupt the sitting of the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal.
Henzodaily reports that the gunshots were fired near the venue of the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led, three-member Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday morning, sending lawyers, litigants, politicians, and reporters scrambling for safety.
The unexpected violence caused widespread panic as people fled in fear of being struck by stray bullets.
The disturbance occurred at the Edo High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin, where the tribunal was convened.
In a statement to Henzodaily, Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, said the APC, who are clearly scared of justice, have continued their devious ploy to frustrate the PDP from reclaiming the mandate duly given to them by the good people of Edo State in the last governorship election at the Tribunal.
He said the party have now resorted to deploying thugs disguised in PDP-branded attire to disrupt the legal process, while pointing accusing fingers at our party.
Aziegbemi strongly dissociated his party from the shooting incident that occurred today at the venue of the Governorship Election Tribunal in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
He stated unequivocally that this shameful incident is yet another in the series of clandestine efforts by the APC to frustrate the legal process and tarnish the image of our party.
His statement reads: “Pray tell, why would the PDP attempt to disrupt the only opportunity it has to reclaim the mandate given to it by the people of Edo State during the last governorship election?
“The PDP is aware that its only pathway to justice is through the legal process, so it would be utterly senseless for anyone to suggest that the party would deploy thugs to disrupt this very process and jeopardize its own chances.
“We urge the APC to exhibit more intelligence when concocting these lies and peddling their usual falsehoods to advance their devious plans. No one needs to be told that it is the APC that is orchestrating this chaos, resorting to disguising their thugs in PDP-branded attire in a desperate and poorly executed attempt to mislead the public.
“We also want to state that the PDP directed all its supporters and members to stay away from today’s tribunal proceedings. This directive was strictly adhered to because we anticipated APC’s plans to instigate violence and disrupt the proceedings. Unfortunately, we did not foresee that they would stoop so low, employing thugs and masking them in PDP-branded attires in their desperate attempt to cling to power at all costs.
“While we are surprised that the police did not arrest the individual who was shooting sporadically in public without restraint, we are calling on them and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that the gun-wielding thug, whose face was clearly visible in the video trending on social media, is arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“The APC must, however, call their thugs, who they describe as lions, and tigers to order. The incident today clearly bears their signature of operation. The same tactics deployed at the tribunal today are being employed in local councils, where thugs are deployed to sack and intimidate duly elected council chairmen out of office. The same pattern is deployed in motor parks and markets, where thugs operating under the protection of the state government harass, intimidate, and extort transporters and traders daily without restraint. So, we don’t need to look far to uncover the truth behind these orchestrated acts of violence and intimidation.
“But we say enough is enough of this rascality and lawlessness! This must stop immediately before it leads to a total breakdown of law and order in the State.”