THE seven-man panel of the Supreme Court that affirmed the election of Governor Samuel Ortom, as the duly elected governor of Benue State, on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the February 11 governorship election had the apex Court dismissed the appeal case filed against Ortom’s election on the ground that his challenger, Dr. Terhemen Tarzoor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacked the locus standi to institute the suit.

While the unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Nwali Ngwuta, held that Tarzoor was not a member of the APC and therefore cannot challenge the nomination and sponsorship of Ortom as the governorship candidate of the APC, the dismissal of the suit had Justice Nwali award in favour of Ortom and the APC, N150, 000.

The Supreme Court’s final decision has therefore put to rest the legal actions of Tarzoor and the PDP as their hopes to rule Benue State were thrown out by the ruling of the Supreme Court.

Justice Nwali Ngwuta‎ said that it was only a person or persons who contested the APC’s primary election against Governor Ortom that can challenge his nomination.

He said: “Anybody or group who did not participate in the primary election of the APC and is challenging the election of Governor Ortom on the ground of improper nomination is a busy-body and meddlesome interloper.”

The counsel to the APC, Chief Sebastine Hong, (SAN) applauded the verdict of the Supreme Court and expressed hope that politicians will learn lessons on how to accept defeat in future elections.

Although the counsel representing Tarzoor left the court shortly after the judgment, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Anthony Ijohor, (SAN) aligned himself to the verdict of the court claiming that the commission had been vindicated.

PDP’s Tarzoor had dragged Governor Ortom to the Benue State Election Petition Tribunal on the ground that his party (APC) did not properly nominate Governor Ortom. Having lost at the Tribunal, Tarzoor pursued his case up to the Court of Appeal and now the Supreme Court being the last place the matter can be taken to.

Also, a lead judgment delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, had the Supreme Court uphold the Victor Oye-led leadership of the party as the one duly recognized by law.

The Court ruled against the Obidigbo, Maxi Okwu-led faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the judgment delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta at the apex court in Abuja.

The apex court had also put paid to the age-long leadership crisis that had rocked the APGA as it affirmed the leadership of the Obiano/Victor Oye-led executive of the party.

Reacting to the judgment, the immediate past National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, said: “We thank God for the dismissal of Maxi Okwu’s appeal by the Supreme Court vindicating my leadership of the party.”

Umeh said he successfully handed over the leadership of the party to the Dr. Victor Ike Oye-led executive on the 6th of June 2015 at the National Convention of the party held at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Center in Awka, Anambra State.

He words: “With this Su‎preme Court judgment, the internal dispute in APGA has been finally laid to rest for a second time by the court, the first was on the 25th of March 2011 when the Supreme Court dismissed Chief Chekwas Okorie’s appeal and now, Maxi Okwu’s appeal has also been thrown out.

“With the judgment, APGA has been freed from all leadership litigations and distractions. Our successors are now in a position to run the party without hindrance to envisaged height,” Umeh said.

The Supreme Court, presided over by Justice John Fabiyi who is now retired, fixed January 15, 2016 to deliver its judgment on the protracted leadership dispute between Victor Umeh and Maxi Okwu in APGA.

Okwu’s counsel, Garba Pwul, (SAN) and Oba Maduabuchi, had prayed the court to set aside the judgment of the Appeal Court, which reversed the ruling of an Abuja High Court of January 15, 2015 and allow the appeal by upholding their client as the authentic National Chairman of the APGA.

Garba contended that the Appeal Court erred by ruling on jurisdiction and ignored the merit of the case, pointing out that Umeh imposed himself on the party for over 10 years in violation of APGA’s constitution and without recourse to re-election by secret ballot at a duly convened national convention.

He also said: “The fact that Umeh had since vacated office did not affect the case, which was filed in August 2013 even as he enjoined the apex court to order Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Okwu’s leadership of the party.”

Garba, countering Umeh’s counsel’s submission, averred that there was no claim against APGA by the appellants, Okwu and those elected with him in the April 8, 2013 convention at Awka, Anambra State but against Victor Umeh and Sani Shinkafi who violated the party’s constitution.

Counsel to Umeh, Patrick Ikwueto, (SAN), however, pleaded with the court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the June 18 Court of Appeal judgment, which recognised Umeh as the national chairman, pointing out that since APGA was not joined, jurisdiction and merit of the matter were interwoven in the appellate court ruling.