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APC, PDP Chieftains Jubilate over Ortom’s Supreme Court Victory
Toryila KAJO, Makurdi
A cross section of Benue people thronged the streets of Makurdi the Benue state capital in jubilation over the decision of the Apex Court Abuja that upheld the victory of Governor Samuel Ortom as the winner of the April 2015 governorship election in the state.
Youths, Okada riders, members of the All Progressive Congress, market women and other stakeholders formed the crowd at beer parks while discussing the victory of Governor Samuel Ortom whose victory was threatened by the case filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Terhemen Tarzoor challenging the nomination of Samuel Ortom by his party, the APC.
Those who spoke in Makurdi including former Nigeria Envoy to Ivory Coast, Ambassador Dennis Ukume said the victory of governor Samuel Ortom right at the poll was devine such that the PDP governorship candidate should not have wasted his time in challenging it at any court of law and advised Dr. Tarzoor to join hand with the APC administration to foster development for the good of the state.
Ambassador Ukume stressed the need for Benue people not to place party affiliation above the interest of the generality of the citizenry and hoped that now that the distraction was over, the governor will carry all willing souls around irrespective of party device; saying that only positive criticism will make governor Ortom to remain on track in the course of administering the affairs of the state in the next four years.
In his remarks, President General of Masev, Ihyarev, Nongov Development Association (Minda), Mr. Iorwase Ahire described the judgement as sound but said there was no ‘Victor no vanquish’ hence both governor Samuel Ortom and Dr. Terhemen Tarzoor are all from the same axis and urged Tarzoor to see Ortom as and hence the need to team up with him for the development of the area and the state in general.
He said the Minda leadership is at the moment putting themselves together in order to ensure that harmony prevails between them and warned against any individual or group fanning embers of discord which he noted is detrimental to the progress of the state.
On his part, the State Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu described the victory as affirmation that Benue people actually gave their mandate to Governor Samuel Ortom at the polls.
“Right from the lower courts, we knew that Tarzoor had no case. We wondered why some elders in the state had continued to incite him to continue with the matter to Supreme Court”. Abounu said.
According to the Deputy Governor, the whole action was diversion and advised the opposition to rather come and join hands with government to move the state forward through purposeful development which the state have been yearning for over the years.
Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Abu King Shuluwa in his reaction pointed out that as an elder of the party and giving his experience, Governor Samuel Ortom had no case in court as affirmed by the Supreme Court since the ground of nomination Tarzoor was challenging was a party affairs.
The former member of Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) recalled that the immediate past Governor, Gabriel Suswam and the party (PDP) had warned its members against embarking on any litigation governor Samuel Ortom and himself (Suswam) had withdrawn his case against the election of Chief Barnabas Gemade as senator representing Benue North East the last year’s general election.
“When Tarzoor lost his case at the Tribunal and the Appeal Court, then one expects that he will quietly stop and not go to Supreme Court. But those that encouraged him to go to Supreme Court were those that were out to ‘chop his money’. In that case, lawyers are also out to make their money hence the ill advice for Tarzoor to proceed to the Apex Court”, he said
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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