By Our Reporter
A group, the Middle Belt Vanguard for Democracy and Good Governance, has alerted Nigerians to a plot to plunge Benue State into anarchy.
It alleged that the plan, which has already gone into operation, is to use the judiciary to deliver judgments that will uphold the results of the “heavily rigged elections that took place earlier in the year.”
In a statement released on behalf of the group by its President, Chief Justus Obekpah, the body said it is curious that all the judgments delivered by the Benue State 2019 Election Tribunal were in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), except in one or two cases.
“The pattern of the judgments was clear and predictable following pre-judgment statements by the PDP and its top leadership.
“In some cases even when the PDP respondents looked so hopeless at the close of proceedings, the PDP corporate veil provided them joy, as judgments are always delivered in their favour, sometimes into the thick of darkness.
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“Must we generally derail to the point that we use manipulation of processes for selfish and personal interests as a norm?
“If we have to lose respect for the sanctity of our legal system and abuse the carriage of justice, then we are doomed as a people,” it said.
The group identified former Senate President David Mark and Governor Samuel Ortom as those involved in the manipulation of the judiciary behind the scene so as to impose on the people a leadership they had rejected at the polls.
Lamenting the ongoing injustice in Benue, the body said: “All cases against PDP in the election petition tribunal have overnight been turned against the All Progressives Congress (APC). Despite robust evidence at Gbande in Sankera Federal Constituency, APC’s appeal by Wombo was dismissed.
“In the case of APC’s Chado’s petition against Achir of the PDP in Gboko East in the Benue State House of Assembly election, the Appeal Court overturned the decision of the tribunal, which ordered a rerun of the election.
“In Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ogewu, was removed by the Appeal Court in favour of Okwu of the PDP.”
It called on Nigerians and President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on David Mark, Samuel Ortom and the President of the Court of Appeal to drop their devilish plans to manipulate the courts.
The group mentioned the cases of George Akume vs Orker Jev; Utaan vs Mzondu; Orubibi vs Suswam; Hundu vs Agagbe; Wayo vs Tyough and Chimin vs Adaji.
“The people of Benue will resist by all means possible attempts to continue to meddle in the carriage of justice in these pending cases,” the body said.
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