ADVERTISEMENT

Benue election tribunal upholds Gov Alia’s victory

The petitioners had dragged the respondents, INEC, Hyacinth Alia, Dr Sam Ode, and the APC before the tribunal, challenging their declaration by the INEC.

Benue election tribunal upholds Gov. Alia’s victory.

Delivering the judgment, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Ibrahim Karaye, held that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction to entertain pre-election issues raised by the petitioners, Titus Uba and PDP.

Karaye, who read the unanimous judgment, stated that only the Federal High Court had the exclusive jurisdiction to entertain issues bordering on pre-election matters.

He further said the petitioners’ case was also an abuse of court processes because the same case was filed by the petitioners before the Federal High Court Abuja Division and its judgment was not challenged by the petitioners.

ADVERTISEMENT

He said the petitioners lacked locus standi to challenge the nomination of the 2nd and 3rd respondents by the 4th respondent since they were not members of the 4th respondent.

Justice Karaye further said that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations of forgery against the 3rd respondent before the tribunal.

He said the 2nd and 3rd respondents were qualified to contest the March 18 Governorship Election and therefore, dismissed the case.

The petitioners, Titus Uba and the PDP had dragged the respondents, INEC, Hyacinth Alia, Dr Sam Ode, and the APC before the tribunal, challenging their declaration by the INEC.

The petitioners argued that the 2nd and 3rd respondents, Gov Alia and Dr Ode, were at the time of contesting the election, not qualified to contest the March 18 Governorship Election.

ADVERTISEMENT

They averred that the 4th respondent – the APC – did not follow the provisions of the law in the nomination of the governorship and deputy governorship candidates.

They also alleged that the 3rd respondent had presented a forged certificate to the 1st respondent, INEC, therefore, should be disqualified.

They, therefore, prayed among other things, for the nullification of their election and declared the petitioners as winners of the election, having scored second highest lawful votes.

They also contended that having not qualified to contest the election, their votes should be declared invalid and certificates earlier issued to them by INEC be withdrawn.

NAN reports that the petitioners in the suit did not challenge the result of the March 18 Benue Governorship Election but the qualifications of the candidates.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, the respondents in their counterarguments, urged the tribunal to dismiss the suit in its entirety as it was an abuse of court processes.

The respondents stated that the Federal High Court Abuja Division had before the election, delivered judgment on the same matter which was filed by the petitioners but they did not appeal the judgment to date.

They also said that the issues raised were all pre-election matters and only the Federal High Court had the exclusive jurisdiction to entertain same.

The 2nd and 3rd respondents clearly stated that since the prayers sought by the petitioners were all pre-election matters, the petitioners' case was a status bar and should be struck out.

They said the petitioners lacked locus standi to challenge the nomination of candidates of other political parties as they were mere meddlesome interlopers.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Dino Melaye explains why he won't challenge Kogi election results at tribunal

Dino Melaye explains why he won't challenge Kogi election results at tribunal

Governor Oborevwori presents ₦714.4bn 2024 budget for Delta State

Governor Oborevwori presents ₦714.4bn 2024 budget for Delta State

Court orders Betta Edu to disclose details of ₦535.8m school feeding  expenditure during lockdown

Court orders Betta Edu to disclose details of ₦535.8m school feeding expenditure during lockdown

Adeleke approves ₦15,000 wage award for civil servants, ₦10,000 for pensioners

Adeleke approves ₦15,000 wage award for civil servants, ₦10,000 for pensioners

Nigerian Navy hands over 187 bags of cannabis sativa to NDLEA

Nigerian Navy hands over 187 bags of cannabis sativa to NDLEA

Benue records ₦425bn property loss amid alleged herders attack on farmers

Benue records ₦425bn property loss amid alleged herders attack on farmers

Full text of President Tinubu’s 2024 Budget speech

Full text of President Tinubu’s 2024 Budget speech

Stop congratulating me on reappontment – NNPC's Kyari tells oil, gas stakeholders

Stop congratulating me on reappontment – NNPC's Kyari tells oil, gas stakeholders

NDIC sets up EFCC desk to strengthen investigation of parties responsible for bank failures

NDIC sets up EFCC desk to strengthen investigation of parties responsible for bank failures

Pulse Sports

Thiago Silva recalls TB fright ahead of Chelsea debut

Thiago Silva recalls TB fright ahead of Chelsea debut

Brazil vs Argentina: Bloody scenes at the Maracana as Brazilian police and Argentine fans clash

Brazil vs Argentina: Bloody scenes at the Maracana as Brazilian police and Argentine fans clash

Arda Turan: Ex-Atletico star in hot tears after losing $13 million to ‘yahoo yahoo‘

Arda Turan: Ex-Atletico star in hot tears after losing $13 million to ‘yahoo yahoo‘

Global Soccer Award: Osimhen to battle Messi and Ronaldo

Global Soccer Award: Osimhen to battle Messi and Ronaldo

Lionel Messi and Scaloni's Argentina relationship set to end

Lionel Messi and Scaloni's Argentina relationship set to end

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT