By Vivian Okejeme Abuja
The Panel A of the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has adjourned till March 24, for hearing on motions challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the matter in Abuja.
The LG Election and Appeal Election Tribunals last week, relocated to Abuja, against a federal high court, sitting in Makurdi order of injunction ordering the tribunals to return and sit in Makurdi.
The tribunal has been divided into three panels representing the state’s senatorial districts—Zones A, B, and C for easy and quick process.
Justice Augusten Choyinman is presiding over Panel A, Justice Egoh over Panel B, and Justice Odinya over Panel C.
Justice Augusten Choyinman adjourned the matter till, Monday, 24th on the instance of the counsel to the 1st Respondent, Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed (SAN) for hearing on the three motions challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
The 1st respondent wants the tribunal to be relocated back to Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
When the matter was called up, Thursday ,counsel to the 1st respondent Mohammed informed the tribunal that they were served with the counter affidavit that morning and asked for time.
” My Lord, we were just served with a counter affidavit this morning. I have not looked at other applications. They are very heavy motions. If given a time and a date, we will take the applications on the same day.
The counsel also noted that all the files relating to Ukum, Logo and Kastina Ala which are the local governments allocated to Panel A, are in Makurdi, adding that they were not notified about two panels.
“The materials we have are for other panel.”
Justice Choyinman asked the parties to bring all the files and adjourned till March 24, for hearing in petitions in motion 2,6,9, which covers Ukum, Logo and Kastina Ala.
One of the key cases before the tribunal involves an internal crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State. The faction led by Augustine Agada claims victory in the elections, while candidates from the Omale Benjamin-led APC group were officially declared winners. The dispute has fueled political tension in Benue, with questions being raised about the legitimacy of the declared APC candidates for the chairmanship and councillorship positions.
In a separate case, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the election process, alleging widespread irregularities and corruption. The party has petitioned the tribunal to annul the entire election.
Adding to the legal battle, an application has been filed requesting members of the tribunal to recuse themselves from the proceedings, further complicating the legal process.
The tribunal is expected to address petitions from 23 chairmanship candidates and 276 councillorship aspirants who were screened by the Agada-led APC faction.
They are contesting the legitimacy of the officials currently occupying these positions, who were screened by the Omale Benjamin-led caretaker committee.
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