NewsAPC Primary: Benue Court Reserves Judgement On Alia's Candidacy

APC Primary: Benue Court Reserves Judgement On Alia’s Candidacy

November 22, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue state, has rejected a motion by Counsel to Prof. Terhemba Shija, an APC governorship aspirant’s move to introduce new items in the case before it.

The presiding judge made the rejection Tuesday, when the case came up for adoption of addresses.

Professor Shija had dragged his party, APC, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia and the Independent National Election Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Court over the adoption of Direct primaries that produced Fr. Alia as the flag bearer in next year’s general election in Benue state.

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In a suit filed by his Counsel, Kenneth Ikoni, Shija is seeking among others, a declaration that the Report of the 1st Defendant’s Gubernatorial Primary Appeal Panel, Exhibit D, constitutes a vital admission against interest against the 1st Defendant showing that no primary election of any sought whatsoever was conducted by the 1st Defendant before nominating the 2nd Defendant, its governorship candidate for the 2023 general election.

That, the failure by the 1st Defendant, having expressly adopted the direct primary mode, to hold direct primaries in designated centres in any of the 276 council wards of Benue State before nominating the 2nd Defendant its gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 Governorship election in Benue State is a contravention of section 84(4)(a) & (b) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The Appellant is also seeking an Order invalidating and voiding the nomination of the 2nd Defendant as the 1st Defendant’s candidate for the 2023 Governorship election in Benue State, as well as an order, directing the 3rd Defendant to exclude the 2nd Defendant, being the candidate of the 1st Defendant from the governorship election of Benue State and barring the 1st Defendant from fielding any candidate at all for the position of Governor of Benue State in the said election.

An Order compelling the 1st Defendant to refund to the Plaintiff, the sum of N50 million being the Expression of Interest and Nomination fee paid to it by the Plaintiff for participation in the 1st Defendant’s Gubernatorial Primary Election that the 1st Defendant failed to conduct.

He seeks a perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd Defendant from parading himself as the candidate of the 1st Defendant for the governorship election to be conducted by the 3rd Defendant for the Benue State in 2023 and any further orders that the Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

After hearing from the parties, the presiding judge adjourned the case for judgement to be communicated to the parties at a later date.

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