By Bridget Ikyado
The Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC in Benue State, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia has said that he was still on the ballot and that he would do further consultations with the leadership of his party to communicate his next line of action.
“I still remain on the ballot, and I’m going to do further consultations with the leadership of the party and you will hear from me further”,he said
In a statement by ISAAC UZAAN,
Media Aide to Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Alia said he called on all his supporters and party faithfuls to remain calm and law abiding .
Fr. Alia made the call while reacting to the judgement delivered by the Appeal Court in Makurdi where it ordered the All Progressives Congress APC to conduct fresh primary election in eleven local Government areas of Benue state to nominate its Gubernatorial Candidate.
While delivering judgement on the appeal filed by Prof. Terhemba Shija, the court agreed with the assertion that there was no valid primary election held on the 27th of May, 2022 by the APC for the nomination of its Governorship Candidate.
However the Court agreed with APC on the rerun of 9th June 2022 which took part in twelve local Government of the States, saying it was very valid and still stands.
Fr. Alia who said they have respected the judgement so far, appealed to the APC party faithful and his supporters to remain very calm, saying everything was still under their control. “I just want to be quite clear that we respect the judgement so far. I’m appealing to the party faithful and my supporters to remain very calm, everything is under our control”.
On his part, the lead counsel to APC, F.B. Mnyim Esq said the judgement delivered by the Appeal Court has opened two options for the APC. The first option is to comply with the order of the Appeal Court and conduct a rerun primary in the eleven local governments within 14 days. The second option is to approach Supreme Court within 14 days.
He said the implication of the judgement on the party is that it has birthed two options for the party to choose one, and to his opinion, either of the options was in favour of the party.
Mnyim continued that by their own defence filed at the trial court, INEC report was fully attached to their affidavit that was transmitted to the Court of Appeal, adding that they would critically study the judgement of the Appeal Court page by page to ascertain whether the INEC report that was used by the Federal High Court was actually transmitted to the Appeal Court, after which they would advise the party accordingly.
It could be recalled that a Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi on Monday 23/1 2023 ordered fresh conduct of the APC governorship primaries in 11 local government areas.
The court also ordered the APC and Alia to pay the appellant, Prof. Terhemen Shija, N2 million in damages.