Plan Disruption of Governorship Tribunal in Makurdi Foiled, As Police Arrest Armed PDP Thugs

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Benue State has commended the Benue State Police Command for today’s arrest of thugs of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Makurdi, who had arrived in the state capital to disrupt the proceedings of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

It said in a statement, which was signed by Comrade Abba Yaro, the State Chairman of the party, that Governor Gabriel Suswam was however making “frantic efforts” to secure the release of the thugs, directing that the case be transferred away from the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
Meanwhile, the ACN is also celebrating “with utmost joy” the Tribunal’s dismissal of the motions filed by Governor Suswam and the PDP, in which they had challenged the jurisdiction of the Tribunal over the case, arguing that 180 days have lapsed.

Comrade Yaro said the arrested PDP thugs, who were “heavily armed,” were being conveyed to Makurdi from Katsina-Ala in seven buses for the purpose of disrupting the Tribunal.  It identified one of the buses, which it said was parked at the State CID, as bearing registration number AE 710 KAL and the inscription “Suswam 2011” on the body.

The ACN said the PDP in the state had resorted to the use of thugs “to disrupt the proceedings of the Tribunal and cause injury to the members of the panel after all efforts and attempts made to offer bribe to the Judges have so far failed.”

It alleged that the thugs had also been given a mandate to deal with members of the opposition in the state since they have refused to give up on their mandate recovery bid.
“We are confident that if the petition is determined on its merit as directed by the Supreme Court, our party will be vindicated,” the statement said.