By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja

After days of prayers and sleeplessness, the Supreme Court, yesterday upheld the election of Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Benue State governorship election held in March, last year.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta yesterday, the apex court agreed with the concurrent findings of the election petition tribunal and the Court of Appeal that Ortom was the winner of the election.

Recall that Ortom as the PDP candidate, secured a total of 434,473 votes against Emmanuel Jime of All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 345,155, creating a margin of 89,318 votes.

Jime had dragged Ortom to the court over allegations of over-voting and other electoral malpractices during the 2019 governorship elections.

In November last year, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division upheld the re-election of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the 2019 general election.

In a unanimous judgement by a five-member panel at the appellate court, led by A. O. Belgore, the court said the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Emmanuel Jime, should pay N150,000 for bringing the application.

After the tribunal ruling, Jime vowed to contest the decision and argued that the Benue State tribunal aired in law and treated his petition unfairly.

The APC candidate’s lawyer, Yusuf Ali, had argued that the election did not comply with the provisions of Nigeria’s electoral laws, but Governor Ortom’s lawyers led by Sabastian Hon argued that the petitioners failed to provide credible evidence to back their claims. They also said the arguments by APC regarding the card readers at the said elections had since been settled in various election decisions.

In its decision, the Court of Appeal upheld the judgment of the tribunal and dismissed Jime’s petition for lack of merit.

Not satisfied with the Appeal Court ruling, Jime Mr. Ortom approached the Supreme Court, which eventually nailed the coffin of the matter and retained Ortom as governor of the state.

Ortom, who defected to the PDP after falling out with his erstwhile political God-Father Senator George Akume of the APC, defeated his closest rival, Jime and 31 other contestants to be declared winner by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

We Accept the Verdict in Good Faith – Jime

Reacting to the Supreme Court ruling yesterday, the APC candidate, Emmanuel Jime, said the court decision was acceptable and has brought to a close, the legal quest on the matter, describing it as “sad to me, our party and teeming supporters. We accept the verdict in good faith, and take its implications in our stride”.

In a statement announcing the acceptance of the ruling, Jime stated the decision to pursue the matter at the tribunal to appeal Court and later to the Supreme Court, was not out of place, but to take advantage of the judicial process for the sake of it.

“We took this route all the way to the Supreme Court as part of  our commitment towards strengthening the integrity of our electoral process. It was and remains our firm belief that unless the sanctity of the ballot is guaranteed, self serving politicians will continue to game the system to retain their clutch on power.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank our legal team. They put up a dogged fight and presented a good case with solid evidence. The outcome might not have gone our way but it shows we will never look the other way where we see cases of electoral malpractice. I remain eternally grateful for the efforts of our lawyers and witnesses.

“I also extend my appreciation to the Justices of the Supreme Court, who inspite of a back-breaking workload, gave our petition the thorough attention it deserved. The outcome notwithstanding, we remain highly respectful of their verdict, Jime added.

Sound Dispensation of Justice – Benue PDP

 Reacting, the Benue State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party said the victory of Governor Samuel Ortom at the Supreme Court, was a “sound dispensation of justice richly deserved”.

State chairman of the party, John Ngbede, commended Justice Sylvester Ngwuata, who, while delivering judgement said: “I have agreed with the submissions of the respondents that the concurrent judgments of the Tribunal and Court of Appeal should not be disturbed.”

Ngbede said Ortom’s victory was so comprehensive and solid that no amount of petition could have dislodged it, stating that the people of the state voted for the governor in the election and the supplementary polls.

He commended the Election Tribunal, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court for their ruling over the victory of the PDP governorship candidate.

The PDP Chairman appreciated the people of the state for their support to the Governor and the party, he assured them that the Governor Ortom’s administration would now settle down to offer them quality service devoid of distractions.

Affirmation a validation of Mandate – Mark

Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has congratulated the governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom over the validation of his victory by the nation’s apex court in Abuja today.

Reacting to the ruling, Mark noted that the “affirmation is a validation of the mandate given to Ortom by the people of Benue state.

 “The validation of your mandate by SCN is an affirmation of the trust reposed in you by the people of Benue State to serve them; for their development, welfare and security which must not be taken for granted”.

In addition, he urged the governor to be magnanimous in victory by extending hands of fellowship to his major opponent Emmanuel Jime and his supporters in the task of working for the good of Benue people.

To Jime, Senator Mark reminded him that the battle for the plum position of governor of Benue State has been fought and won and implored him to join Ortom in the voyage to develop the state.

According to Mark, “I have always maintained that everybody cannot be governor at the same time because there is only one seat but whichever side of the coin one finds himself, he must remember that the interest, welfare and security of Benue and Nigerian people must be paramount”.

He told the governor to be a father to all irrespective of party affiliation saying, “Your good works, security, peace and unity of the State would be the needed legacies”.

Senator Mark has also sent a message of congratulations to the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, Bauchi’s Bala Mohammed, his Taraba State counterpart Darius Ishaku, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State over their victories at the apex court.

The elder-statesman reminded them of the need to make a difference in the lives of their citizens by working assiduously for the development of their States reiterating “you must continue to do only those things that will bring peace, unity and progress to the nation”.