In the appeal filed by defeated Benue governorship
candidate of the PDP, Mr Terhemen Tarzoor,
challenging the victory of Governor Samuel Ortom of the
APC in the April 11th general elections, Justice
Mohammed Garba who presided over today’s sitting
reserved judgment after listening to the counsels from
all parties saying judgement will be communicated to
them through the registry of the court on or before
Thursday, 19th November, 2015.
When the petition came up for hearing, counsel to
Governor Samuel Ortom, Mr Akintola Adeniyi, SAN who
urged the court to dismiss the appeal and allow the
cross-appeal filed by the Governor, raised the
preliminary objection to the appeal on the grounds that
the notice of the appeal was filed without the seal of the
council which robbed the court of the jurisdiction to
entertain it.
He further stated that contrary to submission of the
lawyers representing Mr Tarzoor, the APC held its
primaries in Benue State in which Governor Ortom
emerged as winner and eventually won the
governorship election.
Mr Akintola submitted that by law, there was a
difference between qualification of a candidate and
nomination of a candidate according to section 182 of
the Nigerian constitution. He explained that if a person
was not qualified, any person could go to court to
challenge him but when it comes to the issue of
nomination of candidate of a political party, only a
member or candidate of that political party could go to
court or tribunal to challenge the process, saying Mr
Tarzoor was not a member of the APC.
Counsel to the APC, Mr S. Hon, SAN also urged the
appeal court justice to dismiss the appeal on all
grounds and allow the cross-appeal filed by Governor
Ortom to proceed.
He submitted that the defeated PDP candidate, Mr
Tarzoor did not bring any evidence at the lower court to
show that he won the election by majority of lawful
votes as he abandoned that ground of the petition and
has no right by law to raise such fresh issues at the
court of appeal.
Mr Hon also urged the appeal court to hold the issue of
Governor Ortom’s qualification as settled by the
Makurdi High Court which dismissed the suit file by the
PDP adding that by law, one cannot separate the party
from the candidate.
Counsel to the Independent National Election
Commission, INEC re-echoed the same submissions
made by Mr Hon saying Mr Tarzoor did not win the
elections by majority of lawful votes and also urged the
court to dismiss the appeal.
Counsel to Mr Terhemen Tarzoor, Mr Adebayo
Adenipekun, SAN urged the court to allow the appeal
and dismiss the cross-appeal, and hold that the APC
did not hold its governorship primaries in the state and
therefore Mr Tarzoor was the only qualified candidate
at the elections.
He had earlier appealed for an extension of time to
enable him attach the councils seal to the originating
notice of the appeal which was opposed by the
Governor’s lawyer.
http://www.queendoosh.com/2015/11/tarzoo-vs-ortomo-appeal-court-reserves.html?m=1

19th of november

Okay na... A-P-SHE!!!!



#Elposeidon