The Supreme Court is gearing up to address the Governorship Election Appeals of Ebonyi and Benue States. Justice John Okoro is heading the five-man panel of Justices, where Governor Hyacinth Alia and his deputy, Sam Ode, are present.
Titus Uba, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, is contesting Governor Alia’s victory from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had previously upheld Alia’s election, citing a lack of jurisdiction for the petition as it was considered a pre-election matter.
The court insisted that Uba should have pursued the forgery allegations against Deputy Governor Sam Ode in the high court and failed to establish the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
In the case of Ebonyi State, the Court of Appeal in Lagos affirmed Francis Nwifuru as the duly elected governor. A unanimous decision led by Justice Jummai Sankey dismissed the appeal filed by Chukwuma Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The panel held that the PDP and its candidate lacked the legal right to interfere in the internal affairs of the All Progressives Congress regarding candidate nominations.
