Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi has struck out a suit instituted by Philimon Orseer Akume against the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Dr. Livinus Tsar, challenging the nomination and emergence of Dr. Tsar as the APC candidate for Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency of Benue State.
Delivering its considered judgment, Justice J. Egbe held that Hon. Philemon Akume failed to establish his case or provide sufficient evidence to discredit the outcome of the APC primary election.
The court consequently struck out the suit, relying on the preliminary objection and defence presented on behalf of the third defendant, Dr. Livinus Tsar, by his legal representatives, Barr. Raphael Ashwe and Vershima Akaangee Court Finds No Evidence to discredit the Primary Election Result that produced Dr. Tsar.
In the court assessment of the evidence before it, the court observed that Hon. Philemon Akume failed to demonstrate any sufficient basis for invalidating the outcome of the APC primary election.
The court particularly considered the results presented, which showed that Dr. Livinus Tsar secured 28,549 votes, while Hon. Philimon Orseer Akume, polled 74 votes, out of a total of 44,615 registered voters.
Justice Egbe held that the plaintiff had not successfully challenged or discredited the result of the primary election through credible evidence capable of persuading the court to grant the reliefs sought.
In a further determination, the court held that Hon. Philemon Akume’s complaints substantially bordered on administrative matters within the internal affairs of the APC.