The State Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 upheld the victory of member representing Konshisha constituency at the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Cephas Dyako of the Labour Party (LP) and struck out the petition by filed by Mr Aondowase Kunde of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kunde who is now Benue State commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management asked the tribunal to nullify the March 18, 2023 Assembly election on the grounds of wrong declaration of result that favoured Hon. Dyako
But the Hon. Justice Amina Aliyu-led panel dismissed the petition in its entirety without any dissenting opinion for lack of evidence to prove that the result was wrongly declared.
Reacting to his victory, Hon. Cephas Dyako said he did not hold ill feelings against his petitioner and promised to support him as a brother any time he solicits his support.
“He is my brother and anybody who does not feel satisfied with the result of an election should go to court. It’s a natural thing and so I don’t hold it against him. It’s only a way to get clear on the issues he raised and I think everybody has seen at this point that I actually won.
“So, I wish him well. At the time he will require my support, I think I wouldn’t hesitate. I take him as a strong person with a lot of energy and for me, there is no problem at all”, Dyako said.
The petitioner, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, was not available at the tribunal and his counsel was out of sight to bare their minds whether they were satisfied with the judgement or they were proceeding to appeal court.
