By Amos Aar
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed February 1st and 2nd 2023 for the court-ordered rerun of its Benue State governorship primary election for all aspirants on the party’s platform in the eleven local government areas annulled by the Court of Appeal.
A statement signed by the APC National Chairman, Sen. Abdulllahi Adamu, and National Secretary, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, said the scheduled rerun primary will be by direct mode.
The eleven local government areas where the rerun will hold according to the Appeal Court judgement, the statement said, include Tarka, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer East, Gwer West, Otukpo, Ukum, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, Logo and Vandeikya.
Meanwhile, Prof. Terhemba Shija, who obtained the judgement at the Court of Appeal said he has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement of the Court of Appeal.
In a statement signed by Dr James Mbachiantim, the Director General of Prof. Terhemba Shija Governorship Campaign Organisation dated January 25, 2023, Shija said what he prayed the Court of Appeal to do was not a rerun but total cancellation of the primary election owing to illegalities which he claimed the court had admitted.
“After due consultations with stakeholders and our lawyers, we have decided to appeal against the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on Monday, 23rd January, 2023.
“While we appreciate the judgement and courage of the justices of the court, their pronouncements however fell short of our expectations. The judgement also threw up certain legal issues that can only be resolved by the highest court in the land.
“For instance, since the court accepted our submission and held that there was no All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary election in Benue State for the 2023 polls at the first instance, how could there have been any basis or legitimacy for a rerun?
“The resolution of the foregoing and several other issues has compelled us to approach the Supreme Court,” the statement reads in part.
