Court sacks Benue PDP lawmaker

A Federal High Court in Makurdi, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, has nullified the election of Mr.
Mathew Ire of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who represents Oju 11 state constituency in Benue State House of Assembly.

The lawmaker had contested the PDP primaries in November 29, 2014, alongside Micheal Adigwu and Jairus Erube who then was the incumbent and lost but the PDP declared him winner of the primaries.

However, Adigwu, who polled the highest number of votes  in the primaries, challenged the decision of the party at the federal court on the grounds that the substitution of his name and the process leading to the emergence of the preferred candidate was illegal.

In her ruling, Justice Nyako upheld the plea of the complainant and noted that substitution of the name of the original winner of the primaries was illegal and a breach of the process.

She queried the wisdom of the PDP in embarking in an illegal substitution of the name of the winner of the primaries with the name of the lawmaker who was the first runner up at the election.

Justice Nyako further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to withdraw the certificate of returns issued the lawmaker and issue same to Micheal Adigwu in the interest of justice and fair play.
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