Supreme Court to review gubernatorial election appeals in Ebonyi, Benue

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The Supreme Court is scheduled to consider the appeals for the governorship elections in Ebonyi and Benue States, led by Justice John Okoro and a panel of five justices.

Governor Hyacinth Alia and his deputy, Sam Ode, from Benue State, are present.

Titus Uba, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, is contesting Governor Hyacinth Alia’s victory under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had previously upheld Alia’s election as Benue State governor, following his declaration as the winner of the March 18 governorship election.

The court cited a lack of jurisdiction to address the petition, deeming it a pre-election matter.

The court ruled that Uba should have pursued the forgery allegation against the deputy governor, Sam Ode, in the high court.

Additionally, it found that Uba failed to sufficiently prove the forgery allegations against Ode beyond a reasonable doubt.

In the case of Ebonyi State, the Court of Appeal in Lagos upheld the election of Francis Nwifuru as the legitimately elected governor.

Led by Justice Jummai Sankey, the three-member panel unanimously dismissed the appeal brought by Chukwuma Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The panel addressed and rejected all five issues raised against the appellant, dismissing the appeal for lacking in merit.

Justice Sankey asserted that the PDP and its candidate were not legally entitled to interfere in the internal matters of the All Progressives Congress concerning the nomination of candidates.