The Forum of chairmanship aspirants on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dragged the Benue State government to the Makurdi High Court, over the sudden postponement of council elections and the subsequent appointment of Sole Administrators for the 23 LGAs of the state.
In a suit number MH2/05/17, in which the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) was also joined, the forum, among other things, prayed the court to flush out the Sole Administrators in the entire council areas and compel the state government to conduct fresh elections for chairmanship and Councillorship contenders.
The suit is also seeking an injunction to restrain the 23 Council Chiefs from performing any of the democratically elected Chairman’s functions in their respective council areas.
A popular Makurdi-based Youth Activist, Joseph Asawa, while confirming the report on Thursday, also disclosed that the forum had also filed a motion, asking the court to restrain the Benue State Government from sinking funds into the 23 local government areas for the purpose of running them, describing the structures at that level government as “undemocratic”.
The suit was filed sequel to the admittance by Governor Samuel Ortom that he could no longer conduct LG elections, citing scarcity of funds as one of the reasons.
Consequently, the Governor appointed Sole Administrators from his party, the APC, to oversee the 23 local government areas.
With Barr. C.T Mue as lead counsel, the forum is seeking the interpretation and application of sections 1(2), 7 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
DAILY POST also gathered that the State Chapter of PDP, under the leadership of Sir John Ngbede is strongly behind the aspirants.
It could be recalled that the Kaduna state chapter of the PDP instituted similar litigation against the Nasir El-rufai led state government and recently got the judgement in her favour.
The court did not only sack the “illegally constituted” caretaker committee, it also gave express order that elections be conducted in all the local government areas of the state, with immediate effect.
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