By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
There was palpable tension in Benin City on Friday morning as political thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed at the ongoing Edo governorship election tribunal.
In several videos circulating on social media, a group of individuals is seen assaulting a man and demanding that he leave the premises. Despite the aggression, the man refused to back down. The incident occurred in the presence of security personnel, including officers from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
A Twitter (X) user @I_Am_Ilemona in one of the videos claimed the APC thugs were led by Tony Kabaka and Kelly Okungbowa popularly called.
VIDEO: https://twitter.com/i/status/1880190730934841642
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had at the end of the September 21, 2024, election, declared Monday Okpebholo as the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who recorded 247,274 votes.
Not satisfied with INEC’s declaration, the petitioners, Asue Ighodalo, PDP, Accord Party (AP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), dragged INEC, Okpebholo and the APC before the court to challenge the declaration and conduct of the election.
However, the commencement of the tribunal led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, has been marked with series of clashes between the ruling party and the major oppostion party – PDP.
Two days ago, gunshots were reportedly fired by gunmen in a white Toyota Hilux van on Ezoti Street, close to the Edo High Court Complex, where the tribunal, , was sitting.
A viral video showed the chaotic scene as lawyers, litigants, politicians, and journalists rushed to safety to avoid stray bullets.
The situation was quickly brought under control by heavily armed security operatives, allowing the tribunal proceedings to continue.
Similarly, on Thursday, there was pandemonium in some parts of Edo State, as political thugs, believed to be affiliated the APC allegedly invaded the secretariat of the PDP.
The thugs said to be sentimental to the APC, were reported to have descended upon the PDP state secretariat on Airport Road, Benin, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in their wake.
Eyewitnesses reported that the thugs chased away PDP administrative staff, inflicted injuries on party workers, and brought down the PDP flags, replacing them with APC’s with the invaders claiming they were “recovering” the office secretariat, despite the PDP currently occupying it.
The State PDP chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, who was on the premises at the time of the attack was later seen being escorted out of the building by the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku.
Speaking on the matter, Edo APC Chairman, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, said the property rightfully belonged to the APC as they had renewed the rent for a period of 7 years before the PDP, with the help of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, forcefully took it from them.
“About four years ago, APC made frantic effort to extend the rent-age of this particular building, which has always been the office of the APC. If you search on google, you will discover that this secretariat still reads ‘APC’s office’.
“The party in the state approached the national office to arrange so that we will be able to pay for more years for the rentage off this facility. The national obliged us and sent us money to renew it for seven years.
“The governor (Obaseki) decamped to PDP and in a military way, they took us out of this secretariat. Destroyed all our properties, took our vehicles and drove us out of this place.
“At that time, we complained to the Inspector General of Police and he, in his wisdom agreed that we should take over the secretariat. But because the Commissioner of Police in the state was working hand-in-hand with the then governor, they refused to allow us access. Then, I was the deputy chairman of APC.”