Benue state governorship election 2019 news
Here are some news updates on the Benue State Governorship election in 2019:
Election Results:
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Benue State Governorship election on March 11, 2019. Ortom polled 434,473 votes to defeat his closest rival, Emmanuel Jime of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 345,155 votes.
Pre-Election Tensions:
In the days leading up to the election, there were reports of tensions and violence in some parts of the state. On February 16, 2019, a group of thugs allegedly attacked the campaign office of the APC candidate, Emmanuel Jime, in Makurdi, the state capital. The attack led to the destruction of property and the injury of several people.
Voter Suppression Allegations:
There were also allegations of voter suppression in some areas of the state. The APC accused the PDP of attempting to rig the election by preventing some of its supporters from voting. The APC also claimed that some of its agents were arrested and detained by security agents.
Security Challenges:
The election was also marred by security challenges. On election day, there were reports of armed bandits attacking voters and election officials in some parts of the state. The attacks led to the death of several people and the displacement of many others.
Post-Election Crisis:
After the election, there were reports of violence and protests in some parts of the state. The APC accused the PDP of rigging the election and called for the cancellation of the results. The PDP, on the other hand, accused the APC of attempting to disrupt the election and undermine the democratic process.
Court Challenges:
The APC later approached the court to challenge the election results. On March 27, 2019, the Benue State High Court dismissed the APC's petition, upholding the election results. The APC later appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal, which also dismissed the appeal on July 24, 2019.
Governor Ortom's Inauguration:
Samuel Ortom was inaugurated for a second term as Governor of Benue State on May 29, 2019. The inauguration ceremony was attended by top government officials, traditional rulers, and other dignitaries.
These are some of the key news updates on the Benue State Governorship election in 2019.