APC CANDIDATE IN BENUE GOES TO S’COURT, REJECTS NEW PRIMARY

Professor Terhemba Shija, the All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant whose case the appellate court ordered a new primary in Benue State, has promised to appeal to the Supreme Court.

According to a statement issued by the director general of his campaign, James Mbachiantim, he has decided to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision delivered on Monday, January 23rd, 2023, after due consultations with stakeholders and his lawyers.

The three-judge panel of the state’s appeal court had ordered new primaries in 11 of the state’s 23 local government areas within 14 days.

Shija explained that the decision raised certain legal issues that could only be resolved by the country’s highest court.

“For instance, since the court accepted our submission and held that there was no All Progressives Congress 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.

“We appeal to APC members and the entire Benue electorate to remain calm and understand that the judicial process is an essential part of democracy,” Shija said in a statement.