The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja yesterday affirmed the victory of Samuel Ortom as the governor of Benue State.
In a unanimous judgment, the panel presided over by Hon Justice A. O. Belgore, dismissed the appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Emmanuel Jime, for lack of merit and upheld the judgment of the lower tribunal.
The appeal was filed against the judgment of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld the election of Ortom.
The appellants had asked the appellate court to void Ortom’s victory on the grounds that the election was not done in accordance with the electoral laws and that he won the poll with majority lawful votes.
Their counsel asked the court to set aside the decision of the tribunal and declare Jime and APC winners of the March 9 governorship election.
The court awarded a cost of N150,000 against the appellant.
In a statement signed by Terver Akase, media aide to the governor, Ortom described the judgment as a victory for the people, who gave him a second term mandate.
He said the Appellate Court’s verdict has not only validated the earlier judgment of the tribunal, but has also confirmed the choice of the voters.
He thanked God Almighty for giving him the opportunity to lead the state for another term and called on Jime to support him to develop the state.