Panel A of the Benue local government election petition tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has adjourned proceedings to March 24 to hear motions challenging its jurisdiction.

The tribunal relocated to Abuja in spite of a Federal High Court ruling in Makurdi, which ordered it to return and sit in Makurdi.

The tribunal is split into three panels for each senatorial zone—A, B, and C—to facilitate faster hearings of election petitions.

Justice Augusten Choyinman presides over Panel A. Justices Egoh and M.M. Odinya lead Panels B and C, respectively.

Ms Choyinman adjourned proceedings on request from counsel to the 1st respondent, Mohammed Ndarani (SAN), to hear jurisdictional challenges.

The 1st respondent seeks the tribunal’s return to Makurdi for further hearings, in line with the Federal High Court’s earlier directive.

When called, Mr Ndarani informed the tribunal he received a counter affidavit that morning and requested additional time to respond.

“My Lord, we were just served with a counter affidavit this morning. I have not reviewed other applications,” he submitted to the tribunal.

He further stated: “These are complex motions. If given a date, we will argue all applications together.”

Mr Ndarani also noted that files for Ukum, Logo, and Kastina Ala Local Governments — assigned to Panel A — remain in Makurdi.

The judge ordered the parties to bring the files and adjourned the matter to 24 March for hearing motions relating to those councils.

A major case involves internal conflict within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue.

A faction led by Augustine Agada claimed electoral victory, but candidates from Omale Benjamin’s APC group were officially declared winners.

The dispute has heightened political tension, raising concerns over the legitimacy of declared APC candidates for chairmanship and councillorship.

Separately, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the election, alleging widespread irregularities and acts of corruption.

The PDP is demanding that the tribunal annul the entire election due to these alleged irregularities.

Additionally, there is a pending application asking all tribunal members to recuse themselves from the current proceedings.

The tribunal is to address petitions from 23 chairmanship candidates and 276 councillorship aspirants screened by the Agada-led APC.

They dispute the legitimacy of officials now in office, who were screened by the Omale Benjamin-led caretaker committee. 

(NAN)