Supreme Court Affirms Benue Governor’s Election

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed an appeal against the election of Governor Hycinth Alia of Benue State.

This follows the withdrawal of the appeal by counsel to Mr Titus Uba OF THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sebastian Hon.

The apex court also affirmed the election of the priest-turned-politician.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by John Okoro said issues raised about the disputed Benue State governorship in the appeal did not qualify as post-election matters.

Mr Alia, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated Titus Uba, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival at the 18 March 2023 poll.

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Uba had challenged the victory of Alia of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, Abuja, affirmed Alia’s election as Benue governor, following his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the March 18 governorship election.

Mr Uba, who was speaker of the Benue State House Assembly when he vied to rule the state, accused Nigeria’s electoral commission, INEC, and Mr Alia of electoral malpractices during the election.

After he lost his cases seeking to nullify Mr Alia’s election at the Benue State Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, Mr Uba approached the Supreme Court where he sought to invalidate the polls.

The court held that Uba should have prosecuted the forgery allegation against the deputy governor, Sam Ode, at the high court.

It also held that Uba failed to prove allegations of forgery against Ode beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Supreme Court dismissed his appeal and affirmed Alia’s election.

Governor Alia, his deputy, Sam Ode, and a retinue of state officials were at the Supreme Court to witness Monday’s proceedings.

NP/Emmanuel Ukoh