Benue North East APC primary: INEC tells court Suswam won senatorial ticket

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Benue North East Senatorial District. This decision comes amidst a legal dispute initiated by Suswam against the party's choice of incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udenbe as their candidate, despite Suswam's primary victory.

The case, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/1470/2026, involves Suswam seeking recognition as the validly elected APC candidate for the senatorial district. Suswam is joined in the lawsuit alongside Udenbe and INEC as defendants. During Wednesday's court proceedings, INEC's legal representative, Anthony Malik, SAN, presented documents that confirmed Suswam's victory in the primary election.

He urged the court to base its judgment on the primary election results, supported by the party's official report and the outcome of the election. In contrast, Suswam's attorney, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, requested the court to dismiss the preliminary objections raised by INEC and Udenbe, arguing that these objections lacked merit. However, APC's counsel, A.G.

Yirvoms, requested that the court uphold the party's objection and dismiss Suswam's case. The legal battle revolves around Suswam's challenge to the APC's decision to award the Benue North East senatorial ticket to Udenbe, despite Suswam's claim of winning the primary election. The court is set to deliver its judgment on October 12.