A group of activists and concerned citizens staged a protest on Monday at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) headquarters in Abuja to oppose the relocation of the Benue State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal to the Federal Capital Territory.
The relocation, ordered by Benue State Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, was attributed to security concerns at tribunal venues in Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo. However, a Federal High Court in Makurdi has since issued an order restraining the tribunal from sitting outside Benue State until further legal proceedings.
Led by Dr. Alfred Gbaja and Comrade David Okpanachi, the protesters accused the Chief Judge of subverting justice and violating legal procedures. Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, they vowed to continue demonstrating until the tribunal is restored to Benue State.
Okpanachi criticized the relocation, arguing that it violates the Electoral Act and sets a dangerous precedent. He also accused the NBA of allowing its premises to be used for an unlawful tribunal. The protesters warned that if their demands were ignored, they would continue to occupy the NBA House and the National Judicial Council (NJC) until the matter was resolved in line with the law.
