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BREAKING: Benue Tribunal dismisses all election petitions, rules against petitioners

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The Benue State Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal, sitting at the NBA House in Abuja, has dismissed all ten petitions filed against various local government chairmen over the 2024 council elections.

In its ruling delivered today, April 12, 2025, the tribunal, presided over by Honourable Justice Ityoynyiman (Zone A Panel) and Honourable Justice Igyoh (Zone B Panel), reaffirmed that payment of security costs is a mandatory legal requirement, non-negotiable under any circumstance.

The judges noted that any calls for flexibility on this issue should be directed to the Benue State House of Assembly through the Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Maurice Ikpambese, as only the legislature has the authority to amend the law.

The tribunal also found that the petitioners failed to include the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a necessary party in the proceedings—a critical procedural oversight. Additionally, many petitioners did not submit pre-trial notices within the required timeframe, which the tribunal deemed a serious breach of electoral procedure.

On the core allegations of unlawful exclusion from the election, the tribunal ruled that the petitioners could not establish that they were validly nominated by their parties or that they had participated in the electoral process.

Consequently, the tribunal dismissed all petitions against the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) and the elected chairmen of the affected LGAs: Hon. Maurice Orwough (Guma), Hon. Joseph Keffi (Makurdi), Raymond Zege Aondoakura (Buruku), Ormin Torsar Victor (Gwer West), Timothy Nyiakura Adi (Gwer East), Barr. Elias Torsar Yina (Gboko), Jonathan Modi (Ukum), Yenge Raphael (Tarka), and the chairmen of Logo and Katsina-Ala.

Reacting to the verdict, Hon. Maurice Orwough, Chairman of Guma LGA and ALGON Chairman, hailed the judgment as a win for democracy. He called on the petitioners to set aside differences and join hands with the elected chairmen to bring development and democratic dividends to the grassroots.

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