Protesters on Monday stormed the Nigerian Bar Association House in Abuja, demanding the immediate relocation of the Benue State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal back to the state.
The protesters also insisted that no lawyer should represent any petitioner or respondent if the tribunal continues sitting in Abuja instead of Benue.
Meanwhile, the tribunal acknowledged receiving a court order from the Federal High Court in Makurdi on Friday.
The order restrains the Benue Local Government Election Petition Tribunal from holding proceedings outside the state.
The Benue LG Tribunal is presiding over disputes arising from the state council elections held on October 5, 2024.
The tribunal is hearing about 93 petitions from aggrieved candidates of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party who filed their cases on October 17, 2024.
The tribunal was relocated to Abuja after Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia directed residents to avoid venues of ongoing local government election petition tribunals in Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo, citing security concerns.
The governor stated that the decision was made to ensure the safety of judges, lawyers, petitioners, and witnesses involved in the proceedings.
To reinforce security, Alia also banned protests, unauthorised gatherings, and commercial activities such as hawking, near tribunal venues.
“In the interest of maintaining law and order, any form of protest, unauthorized assembly, or business activities within and around tribunal venues is prohibited,” Alia said.
He added, “Anyone found violating this directive will face legal consequences.”
At the resumed sitting, the presiding judge, Justice R.K. Egbe, suspended plans to hold the tribunal outside Benue State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The tribunal was subsequently adjourned indefinitely.
