Tension In Benue As Tribunal Gives Verdict On Guber Election
There is heightened tension in Benue as the governorship elections tribunal is set to deliver judgment on the 2023 governorship elections in the state today.
Recall that the three-member panel led by Justice Ibrahim Karaye had earlier adjourned the matter for judgment after final addresses by counsels.
The tension is within supporters and members of the two main political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Already palpable anxiety has enveloped the state with members of the two main political parties worried over the judgement.
It would be recalled that the candidate of the PDP, Titus Uba and the party filed a petition challenging the victory of Governor Hyacinth Alia of the APC in the March poll.
They asked the tribunal to nullify the election, claiming the candidates did not comply with the electoral law and purportedly submitted false documents to INEC.
There is widespread hope within the camp of the opposition PDP as they have strong conviction that the tribunal will give them justice because of the tight evidence of wrongdoing they tendered against the candidates of the ruling APC.
It was gathered on Friday in Makurdi that most supporters of Uba were upbeat and confident of winning the case while many supporters of Gov Alia were optimistic that APC would have a favourable judgement.
Many members of the opposition PDP have arrived in the state capital hoping their party will win its case at the tribunal while others are sceptical because of the reach and incumbent privileges of the ruling party in the state.
However, many APC stalwarts in the State believe their party will win the case at the tribunal as the evidence tendered by their opponent is weak.
The security agencies in the state have restricted vehicular traffic around the court where the judgement will be delivered.
A security source indicated that arrangements will be expanded to check any breakdown of law and order
