The Benue State Local Government Election Appeal Tribunal has been formally inaugurated to hear appeals arising from the decisions of the Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal.
DAILY POST reports that the tribunal, which will sit in Abuja, is chaired by Justice Dennis Igyuse, with Justice Michael Ugar and Justice Maimuna Ikwulono serving as members.
The inauguration comes as the initial tribunal prepares to deliver judgments in several high-profile local government election petitions.
The Appeal Tribunal is expected to handle cases brought by parties dissatisfied with the outcomes of the lower tribunal, particularly those relating to the contentious 5 October 2024 local government elections.
A source familiar with the tribunal proceedings noted, with a hint of irony, that “those who wish to further waste money can proceed to appeal.”
The tribunal’s relocation from Makurdi to Abuja in March 2025, due to security concerns and a judiciary staff strike, sparked protests and legal resistance.
While the Federal High Court in Makurdi initially halted the tribunal’s Abuja sitting, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory later issued an interim order permitting the proceedings to continue.
