The Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal says it is relocating from Benin City, the state capital to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

A notice dated January 24, 2025, and signed by the Tribunal Secretary, Mu’azu Bagudu, informed parties to the case of the relocation.

The notice read in part, “I am directed to notify all parties that the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has been relocated to Abuja at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Airport Road, Abuja, effective from Monday, 27th January, 2025.”

There was no reason given in the notice for the relocation.

Gunshots disrupted the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which began hearing on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, in Benin City, the state capital.

Hoodlums were also reportedly seen outside the turbo-charged venue of the tribunal where gunshots rent the air, leaving people to scamper for safety.

The tribunal had commenced hearing on the petitions challenging the September 21, 2024, Edo governorship election where Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared as the winner. The main challenger at the tribunal is Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The electoral umpire INEC had declared Okpebholo winner of the poll with 291,667 votes, Ighodalo was said to have polled 247,274 votes while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) came a distant third in the race with 22,763 votes.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South state traded blames over the shooting incident at the tribunal venue.