What Appeal Court victory means to Benue People – Ortom


Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has dedicated his Court of Appeal victory for the 2019 governorship election to Benue electorate, who he said freely gave him the mandate in the March 9 governorship election.

Accordingly, he called on the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Emmanuel Jime, and other contestants in the last election to join hands with him to develop Benue state.

The call followed the appeal court judgement which gave governor Ortom victory in the appeal file by Emmanuel Jime and his party the APC against the judgement of the Election petitions tribunal that earlier threw out the petition of the APC governorship candidate against Ortom, PDP and INEC.

Ortom said the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the 2019 Benue state governorship election is victory for the people of the state who gave him a second term mandate.

The governor stated that the Appellate Court verdict has not only validated the earlier judgment of the Governorship Election Tribunal but also confirmed the choice of Benue voters in the 2019 polls.

The governor stressed that the task of building the state is the responsibility of its entire people.

He stated the willingness of his administration to collaborate with sons and daughters of the state irrespective of political differences, ethnicity, religion and place of origin, for a greater Benue.

Meanwhile, governorship candidate of the APC Emmanuel Jime while reacting to the  judgement said though they receive the Court of Appeal judgment in good faith, both he and the APC in Benue  remain resolute in their contention that, by the majority of lawful votes cast, Samuel Ortom did not win that election.

He said he would meet with their team of lawyers and together carefully study the judgment and decide on the next line of action.

“It is not news that since after the March 2019 gubernatorial elections, we approached the courts to explore available legal options to retrieve the mandate I believe, majority of the Benue electorate gave to me.

“Like how we disagreed with the tribunal’s judgment and approached the Court of appeal.

“Today too, we receive the Court of Appeal judgment in good faith, but remain resolute in our contention that, by the majority of lawful votes cast, Samuel Ortom did not win that election.

“I will meet with our team of lawyers and together we shall carefully study this judgment and decide on the next line of action.

“I appeal to all of you, my supporters, party faithful and the true advocates of genuine change to remain calm and await our decision,” he added.

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