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APC, PDP In War of Words Over Shooting Near Tribunal Premises

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the major opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) are once again at each other’s jugular over who was responsible for Wednesday’s shooting near the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting at the state High Court premises, Sapele Road, Benin City.


A viral video had shown a gunman in PDP face cap on the rampage shooting sporadically into the air and causing pandemonium. He had emerged from an unregistered white Toyota Hilux loading bullets into a pump-action rifle.


While the sound of the staccato of gunshots reverberated in the court room, causing apprehension, the few policemen around appeared helpless to properly respond to the chaotic situation.


While the APC, whose victory is being contested by the PDP accused the latter of being the culprits, the PDP fired back, accusing the ruling party of disguising their thugs in PDP-branded attire “in a desperate and poorly executed attempt to mislead the public”.


The tribunal resumed full hearing today (Wednesday) in a petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, against the declaration of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC winner of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).


Reacting to the shooting saga, the state chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe, described it as “a deeply disturbing and unacceptable act of violence”


According to Tenebe, “Regardless of political affiliation, resorting to violence to resolve disputes is never justifiable. We must all condemn such actions in the strongest possible terms. Violence has no place in a civilised society, and those responsible for this heinous act must be brought to justice swiftly and without exception”.


“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.


“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”.

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Written by Adekunbi Ero

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