Protesters storm Abuja, demand Benue LG tribunal’s return to state

A wave of protests erupted in Abuja on Monday as demonstrators gathered at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) House, demanding the immediate relocation of the Benue State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal back to the state.

The protesters, angered by the tribunal’s move to Abuja, also called on legal practitioners to boycott proceedings if the hearings continued outside Benue.

Their demands came as the tribunal acknowledged receiving a court order from the Federal High Court in Makurdi, which on Friday restrained it from holding sessions outside the state.

The tribunal is currently handling disputes from the October 5, 2024, Benue State council elections. A total of 93 petitions were filed on October 17, 2024, by aggrieved candidates from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The relocation of the tribunal to Abuja followed a directive by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, who urged residents to stay away from tribunal venues in Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo, citing security concerns.

Read also: Ogun students shut down Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in protest over missing LASU graduate

To reinforce safety measures, Alia also imposed a ban on protests, unauthorized gatherings, and commercial activities such as hawking near tribunal locations.

“In the interest of maintaining law and order, any form of protest, unauthorized assembly, or business activities within and around tribunal venues is prohibited,” Alia declared.

He further warned, “Anyone found violating this directive will face legal consequences.”

Amid the growing controversy, the tribunal’s presiding judge, Justice R.K. Egbe, announced the suspension of all plans to hold proceedings outside Benue State pending the resolution of the motion on notice.

With the legal battle over the tribunal’s location still unresolved, the proceedings have been adjourned indefinitely.

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