NIGERIA: Appeal Court Decides on Benue State Gubernatorial Election*

WRITTEN BY: CHIOMA MADONNA NDUKWU

In a session held in Abuja, the Court of Appeal reaffirmed Hyacinth Alia as the validly elected governor of Benue State.

The appeal brought forth by Titus Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party, contesting the tribunal’s validation of Alia’s victory in the March 18 governorship election, was dismissed.During the tribunal proceedings, Uba raised concerns, including an allegation that Alia’s deputy, Samuel Ode, presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing a breach of Section 182(1)(j) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Uba also claimed that Alia’s nomination was within less than 180 days before the election date, and Ode’s candidacy was not submitted to INEC following an additional re-run primary election held by the party.The tribunal, headed by Justice Ibrahim Karaye, rejected the petition, categorizing it as a pre-election issue and being statute-barred.In its recent ruling, the three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, found that Uba failed to substantiate the forgery allegations against Ode beyond a reasonable doubt.

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