The Conference of Benue Journalists has congratulated Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue, on his affirmation by the Supreme Court, as the duly elected governor of the State.
The CBJ message is contained in a statement signed by its President, Emmanuel Anule, on Tuesday, in Abuja.
Anule said the verdict had ended the long legal battle between the two main political parties.
The group, however, said that the verdict had placed irrevocable legitimacy on the Alia led-administration to begin to deliver good governance to the Benue people.
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“It is important for the governor to see this final verdict as the handiwork of God and a reflection of the will of the people for positive and impactful change in Benue,“he said
He implored the Governor to extend the olive branch to his opponents, and all Benue sons and daughters, irrespective of their political affiliations for the purpose of inclusive governance.
“Now that politics is over, it is time to work; the distraction should also be over. Our people desire peace, quality infrastructure and impact in all sectors of the economy.
“The administration requires our support to maintain the peace that will attract investors into the state,’’Anule said.
Recall that a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal had in November 2023, affirmed Alia’s election after dismissing the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Titus Uba of the PDP who was Alia’s closest challenger had appealed the judgement of the Benue Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Alia, a Roman Catholic priest, won the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The tribunal had held that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the pre-election issues raised by Uba.
Dissatisfied with the decision, the PDP candidate appealed, seeking to overturn Alia’s victory.
However, in a unanimous decision the appellate court resolved all the issues in favour of the Governor, including the alleged non-qualification of Alia and his Deputy, Sam Ode.
In the same vein, the Supreme Court judgement, delivered on January 8 has ended the long legal battle between the APC and the PDP in the State.
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