Benue Senate battle: INEC makes crucial revelation in Suswam’s case

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that former Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam won the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election for the Benue North East Senatorial District.

The electoral body disclosed its position during proceedings in a suit filed by Suswam over the APC’s decision to recognise the incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udenbe as its candidate despite the reported outcome of the primary.

In the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1470/2026, Suswam is asking the court to declare him the validly elected APC candidate for the senatorial district.

The former governor listed the APC, Udenbe and INEC as defendants in the suit.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, counsel representing INEC, Anthony Malik, SAN, informed the court that documents concerning the conduct of the primary election showed Suswam as the winner.

Malik urged the court to resolve the dispute based on the result of the primary, noting that INEC had submitted its report on the exercise together with the election result.

He therefore asked the court to uphold the result indicating that Suswam emerged victorious in the primary.

Counsel to Suswam, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, also urged the court to grant the reliefs requested by his client.

Okutepa asked the court to dismiss the preliminary objections filed by the APC and Udenbe, arguing that the objections were without merit.

However, counsel to the APC, A. G. Yirvoms, urged the court to uphold the party’s preliminary objection and dismiss Suswam’s suit.

The former governor is challenging the APC’s decision to recognise Udenbe as its candidate for the Benue North East senatorial election despite his claim that he won the party’s primary.

The Federal High Court has fixed October 12 for judgment in the matter.

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