Benue State Election Tribunal halts proceedings following a court order and protest at the NBA House in Abuja
The Benue State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal has indefinitely suspended its proceedings following a court order from the Federal High Court in Makurdi.
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The tribunal’s decision came after it acknowledged the court’s directive to halt sessions at the NBA House in Abuja or any venue outside Benue State.
The Federal High Court’s ruling, issued on Friday, was made by Justice R.K. Egbe. The judge ordered the suspension of any plans to hold tribunal sessions outside the state until a motion on notice is heard and determined. This move has brought the tribunal’s proceedings to a standstill, with no new date set for hearings.
The suspension followed a protest at the NBA headquarters in Abuja, where demonstrators voiced strong opposition to the tribunal’s relocation.
Protesters condemned the move and demanded the tribunal be returned to Benue State, as well as calling for no lawyer to represent any party in the court.
They argued that the Chief Judge of Benue State’s actions were undermining the judiciary and damaging justice with personal sentiments.
Counsel for the respondents, Sunday Ameh, confirmed the tribunal’s decision to halt proceedings, stating that they would await further instructions on when the hearings would resume.
The indefinite adjournment has sparked further discussion regarding the legality of relocating the tribunal from Benue State, where the local government elections took place in October 2024.
Governor Hyacinth Alia’s government had previously issued a directive for residents to avoid the venues of the local government election tribunals in Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo, citing security concerns.
Alia stressed that the safety of judges, lawyers, petitioners, and witnesses was a priority, and additional measures were put in place to ensure security.
These included a ban on protests, unauthorized gatherings, and business activities, such as hawking, around the tribunal venues. The governor warned that violators would face legal consequences.
The tribunals are dealing with numerous disputes arising from the October 5, 2024, Benue State Local Government elections.
Since October 17, 2024, a total of 93 petitioners, including candidates from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have filed cases before the tribunal.
