The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State in a spilt decision has declared
Senator Gabriel Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared the winner of the February 25 election in Benue Northeast senatorial district.
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State declared Suswam winner of the Senatorial District Election in a spilt decision of 2 to 1 judges on three member panel.
The tribunal which delivered it’s judgement for over three hours sacked the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Emmanuel Udende from the upper chambers of the National Assembly.
Recalled that Suswam, a member of the 9th senate, had lost his bid to return to the upper chamber of the National Assembly in the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Disatisfied, he had headed to tribunal, arguing that Udende did not score majority of the lawful votes cast in the 25th February, 2023, Benue North East Senatorial District election.
Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Ory Zik-Ikeorha and another member, ruled in the favour of Suswam and PDP.
The duo, in their judgment, stated that Suswam and PDP fulfilled the requirement of the law in proving their case of irregularities such as mutilation, non-signing of documents, non-inclusion of lawful votes, among others.
But, in a minority judgement, Justice Umar Mohammed, descended and held that the petitioner failed to proved his case.
Mohammed held that Suswam had called 19 irrelevant ward agents witnesses instead of polling Units agents as the irregularities complained of were at the polling units.
Suswam and PDP’s petition was predicated on the ground that Udende did not score majority of the lawful votes cast during the election.
Justice Mohammed held that the evidence by Suswam was grossly insufficient to sustain his petition.
He therefore, dismissed the petition and awarded the cost of N100,000 in favour of each of the respondents against the petitioner.
Meanwhile, Innocent Daagba, on behalf of the APC, said, “we are not satisfied with the decision and will advice my client to appeal.”
The PDP, through Bemgba Iortyom, the State Publicity Secretary, hailed the judgment and congratulated Senator Suswan.
Also, the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has congratulated Senator Suswam over his victory at the tribunal.
Ortom said the victory of Senator Suswam has further proven the capacity of the judiciary to uphold justice and serve as the bastion of democracy.
The former governor through his media aide, Terver Akase, commended Suswam for following the legal process to get justice and congratulated the PDP family in Benue over the tribunal judgment.