The Benue State Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Makurdi, today struck out the petition of Prof Steve Torkuma Ugbah and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), as the 180-day constitutional limit was reached, but it indicated it will take the matter to the Supreme Court.
The Benue State Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Makurdi, today struck out the petition of Prof Steve Torkuma Ugbah and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), as the 180-day constitutional limit was reached, but it indicated it will take the matter to the Supreme Court.
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In a statement signed by the State Chairman of the ACN, Comrade Abba Yaro, the ACN observed that the same scenario played out today under Justice Halima Mohammed, had taken place in September 2011 under the previous panel of Justice Munir Ladan.
“Once again, just as the technicality of mode of application for commencement of pre-trial had terminated the life of our petition, the technicality of 180 days, which the Supreme Court was aware of when it ordered the retrial of our petition on the merit on 14thNovember 2011, has again led to the termination of our petition,” the statement said, pointing out that in the eyes of the law, a party before a court must be allowed to ventilate his grievance.
The party said it is always reminded and encouraged by what the Israelites went through before they reached the Promised Land and what its brothers and sisters went through in Edo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun before justice was finally done.
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“The intendment of the legislature in an attempt to fast track judicial process by inserting 180 days in the Constitution within which the Tribunal must deliver its judgment in writing, cannot be used as an escape window for election riggers and people who do not possess the requisite qualification to contest elections. We have traversed this path before and we are going to make the journey back to the Supreme Court who made the initial order,” the statement said.
The ACN stressed its belief in justice and the constitutional pursuit of its “stolen mandate,” and called on its supporters to remain calm, law abiding and resolute as the matter will shortly be taken to the Supreme Court soonest.
“We shall laugh last,” the party concluded.
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