The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders, including political parties, supporters, counsels, security agencies and the media, to ensure the Tribunal records a successful outing.

At its inaugural sitting held in the premises of the Edo State High Court, along Sapele Road, Benin City, on Monday, the Tribunal chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, urged counsels to the parties not to engage in unnecessary arguments that could lead to a shouting match.

Justice Kpochi, who was flanked by the other two members of the panel of judges, Justices AB Yusuf and AA Adewole, craved the continuation of the serene and conducive atmosphere within the precincts of the Tribunal.

“I am impressed by the conducive and calm environment I am seeing and going forward, I will want this to continue. I appeal to you all that let us put our eyes on the ball so that we can have serene proceedings,” Justice Kpochi said.

“You have SANs and very senior lawyers here, nobody is going to shout at you, please don’t also shout at us. If there are areas you feel not comfortable about, please draw our attention to it,” he said.

In his response, Ken Mozia, SAN, one of the lead counsels for candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, pledged their commitment to the proceedings as far as other parties would do the same.

“We will do our best to represent our client and we have admonished his supporters to be civil and not to even be in the court premises and we will do our best to cooperate with you,” Mozia said.

On his part, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, lead counsel to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said they were ready to cooperate with the panel and other parties in the suits to ensure a smooth exercise.

“We sue for understanding and pledge to work together. We have done cases, we have also done cases against each other, so we know ourselves and we will give our maximum cooperation for this,” he said.

The Tribunal, thereafter, adjourned till Wednesday, December 18 in continuation of the pre-hearing sitting when, according to Justice Kpochi, all the parties would have completed all necessary preliminary actions and also agreed on a pattern of hearing when the proper sitting would commence.

The PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, is challenging the declaration of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, as winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Okpebholo winner of the election with 291,667 votes as against 247,274 votes it recorded for Ighodalo.

Ighodalo had, however, promptly rejected the results and filed a petition at the Tribunal challenging the electoral umpire’s decision.

Others parties challenging the result of the election include the Accord Party (AC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).