Jime vs Ortom: Abounu calls on APC to accept verdict of Benue people

Benue State Deputy Governor, Engr Benson Abounu has described the decision of the Court of Appeal dismissing the appeal filed by Barr. Emmanuel Jime, the defeated governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state as a vindication of the stand of the Benue people at the elections.

Engr Abounu, who spoke today at his office while reacting to the judgment of the Federal Court of Appeal,Abuja Judicial Division called on the APC in the state to accept the verdict of the Benue people and join Governor Samuel Ortom in bringing dividends of democracy to the people. He said Governor Samuel Ortom’s government, will do all within its power to make life more meaningful for the Benue people.

“Today’s judgment at the court of Appeal and especially the cost that was awarded against the APC candidate is an indication, a signal to the opposition APC to accept the verdict of the people at the polls and team up with us in order that we can deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Benue State”.

He said it would amount to an exercise in futility and fruitlessness, and a waste of time for the Benue people for the APC to proceed further with the matter as it is manifestly clear that they have no case at all.

“I don’t know where they are getting their legal advice from, because I was at the hearing of the Court of Appeal and even the members of the Panel were surprised at the grounds of appeal; one of which was that there wasn’t sufficient compliance with the Electoral Act and therefore our victory at the polls should be set aside. But then out of over 30,000 polling units in the state, they were able to provide only 30 witnesses and these witnesses based their evidence on hearsay because they were not present at the polling units. The Court of Appeal told them that they have been Supreme Court judgments in this regard and that for them to prove any case of this nature, they will have to provide evidence from all the polling units in the state. The Supreme Court judgments have put this matter to rest, and there’s no ground at all for their appeal.”