The Appeal Panel on Local Government Election Petitions for Benue State has upheld the elections of all 23 local government chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC), delivering a major legal victory for Governor Hyacinth Alia and the ruling party.
The panel, which sat at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) House in Abuja, delivered its verdict on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, reversing earlier decisions by the Local Government Election Petition Tribunals. The tribunals had nullified APC victories in nine local government areas following the October 2024 elections conducted by the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC).
The affected councils in the previous rulings included Vandeikya, Konshisha, Kwande, Ushongo, Otukpo, Agatu, Ado, Apa, and Ohimini.
In its ruling, the appellate panel dismissed all petitions filed mainly by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties, citing lack of merit and insufficient evidence of substantial non-compliance with electoral laws.
Reacting to the development, Chairman of Agatu Local Government, Melvin Ejeh, described the judgment as a victory for justice and democracy. He called on opposition parties to set aside political differences and work with the elected leadership to deliver development and good governance at the grassroots.
