Appeal Court affirms Ortom’s victory

The Court of Appeal Makurdi Division, sitting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital yesterday dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate in the April 11 governorship election, Mr. Terhemen Tarzoor, affirming the election of Governor Samuel Ortom as the duly elected governor of the state.

Tarzoor had filed an appeal on 14 grounds, saying the lower court erred in its judgement that Ortom, was duly elected, stating that he was not properly nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC), to contest the election.

Delivering judgement, Justice Mohammed Garba, dismissed Tarzoor’s appeal and upheld the judgement of the lower tribunal delivered on 29th September, 2015. Justice Garba said, Tarzoor’s appeal failed on all grounds, noting that the evidence adduced by the first respondent (Ortom) and second respondent (APC) outweigh the petitioner claims.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Tarzoor, Mr. Donald Kertyo, described the judgement as “slaughtering of the petitioner’s prayers on the alter of justice through manipulation, and hinted that they may proceed to the Apex Court to seek justice ; while the State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Michael Gusah, said the judgement was an affirmation of the overwhelming mandate given by the people, adding that it would enable him concentrate fully on the governance of the State.”