By Ebuka Obidinma
The Benue Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal on Saturday in Abuja, upheld the victory of the incumbent Chairmen of Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas.
The Justice Ityonyiman led panel, in a unanimous decision, upheld the preliminary objections raised by Mr Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, lead counsel for the Benue Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), the 1st respondent in the petition.
The petitions which were predominantly filed by the Agada faction of the Benue All Progressives Congress, (APC) were dismissed for lacking in merit.
The tribunal upheld the objections of Ndarani on the grounds that the petitioners lacked the locus standi (legal right) to have filed the petitions.
It also held that the issues raised in the petitions were predominantly pre-election matters and that the petitioners failed to mandatorily pay security for cost as prescribed by the state electoral law.
The tribunal also said that the proper parties to the petitions were not before the tribunal as the petitioners had failed to join the APC.
With the above issues resolved in favour of the respondents, the tribunal therefore upheld the objections raised by Ndarani in dismissing the petitions.
Reacting to the judgment, the senior lawyer described it as faultless saying it was a reflection of the true and positive position of the law.
He also commended the panel for the sound and indepth demystification of the legal issues brought before it.
Ndarani said the judgment had further crystalised the confidence the people of Benue state had in the tribunal.
Other judgments within the Zone A axis would be delivered on April 14 and 15 respectively.
