The Benue State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal has indefinitely suspended its proceedings after receiving a restraining order from the Federal High Court in Makurdi.
The order, issued on Friday, barred the tribunal from holding sessions at the NBA House in Abuja or any other venue outside Benue State.
Justice R.K. Egbe, who presided over the ruling, stated that any plans to conduct tribunal hearings outside Benue State should be halted until the motion on notice is heard and determined.
The tribunal’s decision to adjourn indefinitely came just minutes after a protest erupted at the headquarters of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja.
Demonstrators condemned the tribunal’s relocation to Abuja and demanded its immediate return to Benue State. Protesters also insisted that no lawyer should represent any petitioner or respondent in the tribunal until it is relocated.
Confirming the development, Sunday Ameh, counsel to the respondents, told reporters at the NBA House that the panel had formally informed them of its decision to suspend all hearings in Abuja following the court order.
Meanwhile, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has directed residents to stay away from tribunal venues in Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo, citing security concerns.
The governor emphasized that the move was aimed at ensuring the safety of judges, lawyers, petitioners, and witnesses involved in the ongoing tribunal hearings.
To reinforce security measures, Governor Alia also banned protests, unauthorized gatherings, and commercial activities, such as street trading, around tribunal venues.
In a statement, the governor warned that anyone violating the directive would face legal consequences.
The tribunal is handling disputes arising from the October 5, 2024, Benue State Local Government elections.
Reports indicate that 93 petitioners, including aggrieved candidates from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have filed cases since October 17, 2024.
As legal battles continue and political tensions escalate, the fate of the Benue LG election tribunal remains uncertain, with stakeholders eagerly awaiting the court’s final ruling on its jurisdiction and venue.