Conduct fresh primary, A’Court orders Benue APC

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, issued a ruling on Monday that requires the All Progressive Congress (APC) to conduct a fresh primary election in 11 local government areas of the state. This decision aims to determine the party’s governorship candidate for the upcoming general election. The judges presiding over the case included Mohammed Danjuma, Justice Abraham Biobelle, and Justice Ibrahim Jauro.

Justice Danjuma delivered the judgment in response to an appeal filed by one of the governorship aspirants, Professor Terhemba Shija. He stated that the court concurred with Professor Shija’s claim that a valid primary election had not taken place on May 27, 2022, when Alia was declared the winner. After reviewing the evidence presented by Professor Shija, including the report from the appeal panel that assessed concerns raised by aspirants, the court concluded that the primary election was invalid. However, the court upheld the validity of the rerun held on June 9, 2022, in 12 local government areas, affirming that it remains legitimate.

Justice Danjuma emphasized the importance of ensuring that voters in the remaining 11 local government areas are not disenfranchised. He ordered the APC to conduct a new election in these areas within 14 days, stating that the Independent National Electoral Commission should recognize the winner by incorporating the results from both the previous and the new primaries. The local government areas mandated for the fresh primary include Gboko, Gwer-East, Gwer-West, Guma, Katsina, Logo, Makurdi, Otukpo, Ukum, Tarka, and Vandeikya. The rerun was previously conducted in Buruku, Kwande, Agatu, Konshisha, Ogbadibo, Ushongo, Oju, Okpokwu, Ado, Ohimini, Obi, and Apa.

In response to the ruling, the APC governorship candidate, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, urged supporters to remain calm, expressing his respect for the court’s judgment. He reassured them that they would still be on the ballot, emphasizing their commitment to the state’s progress and to God. Additionally, the state chairman of the party, Austin Agada, called for calm among supporters, asserting that the people’s voice is paramount, and reinforcing the belief that “the voice of the people is the voice of God.”