APC Rejects Tribunal Judgement On Benue House Of Assembly Election

The Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal upholding the petition of Senator Gabriel Suswam as the winner of the February 25th Benue North East senatorial election.

Naija News reported earlier that the Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State on, Friday, declared the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Benue Northeast senatorial district, Gabriel Suswam winner of the polls.

In over three hours of court processing, the Tribunal sacked the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Emmanuel Udende, from the Senate.

This news platform understands that Suswam had approached the election tribunal to upturn the election in his favour due to irregularities in the February 25th North East senatorial election.

On Friday, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Ory Zik-Ikeoha, and members entered judgment in favour of the defeated candidate of the PDP in the February 25th senatorial election.

Reacting, however, the APC, in a statement signed and issued to newsmen in Makurdi, during the weekend by the Benue State publicity secretary of the party, Dan Ihomu, expressed dissatisfaction with the Tribunal ruling.

The statement reads: “We salute the courage of one of the three members of the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Justice U.Z. Mohammed for dismissing Sen. Suswam’s petition against Emmanuel Udende and awarding the cost of 100,000 against Suswam.

”Justice Mohammed, in his judgment, held that evidence of PDP and Gabriel Suswam is grossly insufficient to sustain his petition.

“We, therefore, express our dissatisfaction with the spurious judgment delivered by the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.

“We are sure that the Appellate court will restore the miscarriage perpetuated by the majority decision of the Tribunal.

“We urge members of the party to remain calm as Sen. Udende proceeds to the appellate court to defend the mandate given to him by the good people of Zone A with the confidence that Nigeria’s Judicial system can still protect us.

‘Our quest for justice remains on course and our passion towards redressing the travesty of justice meted out on our people.”

Ihomu added that Sen. Undende’s mandate remains unshaken and is on solid grounds.

Meanwhile, the Benue State PDP has hailed the Tribunal for delivering substantial justice in the petition based on the facts and evidence rendered before it in line with extant electoral laws, guidelines, and regulations, thereby boosting public confidence in the judiciary.

According to the statement issued and made available by the party’s publicity secretary in the state, Bemgba Iortyom said, “The party rejoices over the victory won particularly as it re-establishes its dominance in the upper chamber membership composition of the National Assembly in the state with two Senators out of three.

“This victory of Senator Suswam serves to heighten the hopes that PDP will likewise reclaim the governorship of the state at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal through the judgement being awaited.”

Iortyom said the party was confident that the former Benue State Governor would deploy his wealth of experience and proven pedigree in the 9th Senate, to get back seamlessly into the business of lawmaking in the 10th Senate for the good of his constituents, the party, and Nigeria at large.