Appeal Court affirms Benue Gov’s victory

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On Monday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed Hyacinth Alia’s election as governor of Benue State.

Titus Uba, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the March 18 governorship election, had asked the appellate court to overturn the tribunal’s decision, which upheld Alia’s election.

Uba claimed before the tribunal, among other things, that Alia’s deputy, Samuel Ode, provided a fake certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission in violation of Section 182(1)(j) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

He also claimed that Alia’s name was submitted less than 180 days before the election date, and Ode was also not submitted to INEC after the party conducted a further re-run primary election.

A three-member panel of the tribunal, headed by Justice Ibrahim Karaye, dismissed the petition on the ground that it was a pre-election matter and was statute-barred.

Ruling on the appeal on Monday, the appeal court’s three-member panel led by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi held that the Uba failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the allegations of forgery against Ode.