The Court of Appeal in Makurdi has ordered the All Progressives Congress to conduct a fresh primary election in 11 out of the 23 local government areas of Benue State for the nomination of its gubernatorial candidate.
The affected local governments are, Gboko, Gwer- East, Gwer-West, Guma, Katsina-Ala, Logo, Makurdi, Otukpo, Ukum, Tarka and Vandeikya.
The court also asked that APC conduct the primaries within 14 days and that the Independent National Electoral Commission recognizes the winner after adding election results from the 12 local government areas.
The judgment followed an appeal filed by one of the aspirants on the platform of the APC, Terhemba Shija, arguing that there was no valid primary election held on May 27, 2022 by APC for the nomination of its gubernatorial candidate to warrant Hyacinth Alia emerging as the winner.
The court, after evaluating evidence submitted by Professor Shija, agreed with his submissions.
However, the Court agreed with APC on the rerun of June 9, 2022, which took part in 12 local governments of the states, saying it was valid and still stands.
Meanwhile, the court dismissed Senator Barnabas Gemade’s appeal and upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court, which dismissed his suit against Alia for being statute-barred.
The development is coming barely 33 days before the 2023 general elections.
