The Forum of All Progressives Congress Support Groups has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to use his good offices and intervene in the handling of a subsisting case before the Benue State Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the Director General of the Forum, Dr A. K. Peters, expressed concern over the relocation of the Tribunal sitting from Makurdi to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Dr Peters who alleged bias on the part of the Benue State Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, noted that the decision to relocate the Tribunal sitting was a ploy to undermine the dispensation of justice.
He said: “Today, the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese has clearly taken side with the dissolved executive to undermine President Bola Tinubu and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s leadership. To us, it is unacceptable because there is a thick line between justice and injustice. The Chief Justice of Nigeria should call the Benue Chief Judge to order before it is too late.
“We have it in good authority that the Chief Judge of Benue State has relocated the Benue State Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal from Makurdi to Abuja after granting a waver to the petitioners not to pay security deposit as required by the law, citing hardship in the land.
“There is no section of the constitution or laws of Benue State that empowers the Chief Judge to grant waver to the petitioners or move a local government tribunal from the state of jurisdiction to Abuja.
“Lawyers have started arguing that any decision taken by the tribunal in Abuja is null and void as an election conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission can only be entertained in the state.
“The Chief Judge in his circular cited security reason, meanwhile he has been going to his office amidst his purported removal by the Benue State House of Assembly without any security threat.
“The Benue State government which is the funder of the tribunal also issued a statement insisting that the government of the State is not aware of the relocation and assured the public that it could provide adequate security for the tribunal.
“The Chief Judge, who acted ultra vires when he favoured the petitioners whose petition were to be dismissed also emphasised on hardship in the land in a bid to blackmail President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration while protecting the petitioners. The same Chief Judge has relocated the whole tribunal from Benue State to Abuja even though he has no powers to do so.
“The question is between the relocation of the tribunal which means transporting and accommodating lawyers and witnesses to Abuja and the security posit to be paid into the court, which is more a burden to the people?
“It is now clear that there is an attempt to truly undermine the party’s national leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Benue State Chief Judge who has abandoned justice for trivial sentiment.
“We strongly call on the national leadership of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dr Abdullahi Umar Gandje to immediately wade in to the pending danger and threat to democracy in Benue State.
“We strongly observe that the Benue State Chief Judge is being used by the opposition not only to frustrate our performing government in Benue state but also a direct attack on our amiable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of 2027 general elections. Therefore, our party leadership and the presidency must take a stand now before some anti-democratic forces and enemies of our party hijack the ongoing evil plot.
“We stand by the decision of the party and the confidence reposed on Mr. President and our National Chairman at the just concluded NEC of our party.
“We insist that Mr. President must save democracy as the decision of the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee must be respected by all party faithful.”
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