APC leaders kick over alleged relocation of Benue council tribunal to Abuja

The Forum of APC Support Groups Leaders has faulted the alleged decision by the embattled Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese to relocate the Benue State Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal from Makurdi to Abuja.

The Director General of the forum, Dr. A. K Peters, at a press briefing Thursday in Abuja contended that no section of the constitution or laws of Benue State empowers the Chief Judge to move a local government tribunal from the state of jurisdiction to Abuja.

The forum argued that any decision taken by the tribunal in Abuja is null and void as an election conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission can only be entertained in the state.

The forum wondered why the Chief Judge cited security reasons for the alleged relocation of the tribunal sitting even when it is trite that he has been going to his office amidst his purported removal by the Benue State House of Assembly without any security threat.

The forum claimed that it is now clear that there is an attempt to truly undermine the party’s national leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Benue State Chief Judge who has “abandoned justice for trivial sentiment.”

They thereby strongly called on the national leadership of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to immediately wade into what they termed “the pending danger and threat to democracy” in Benue State.

The forum particularly claimed that the Benue State Chief Judge is being used by the opposition not only to frustrate the Governor Hyacinth Alia-led administration in Benue state but also a direct attack on President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Our party leadership and the presidency must take a stand now before some anti-democratic forces and enemies of our party hijack the ongoing evil plot,” they noted.

“We stand by the decision of the party and the confidence reposed on Mr. President and our National Chairman at the just concluded NEC of our party. We insist that Mr. President must save democracy as the decision of the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee must be respected by all party faithful.

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“The Benue State government which is the funder of the tribunal also issued a statement insisting that the government of the State is not aware of the relocation and assured the public that it could provide adequate security for the tribunal.

“The Chief Judge, who acted ultra vires when he favoured the petitioners whose petitions were to be dismissed also emphasised hardship in the land in a bid to blackmail President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration while protecting the petitioners. The same Chief Judge has relocated the whole tribunal from Benue State to Abuja even though he has no powers to do so.

“The question is between the relocation of the tribunal which means transporting and accommodating lawyers and witnesses to Abuja and the security posit to be paid in to the court, which is more a burden to the people?”