Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has directed residents to stay away from the venues of the ongoing local government election petition tribunals located in Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo to guarantee security and prevent public disturbances. Conveyed through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, the directive restricts access to the court premises strictly to the tribunals, litigants, legal teams, witnesses, and secretariat staff, while completely banning protests, unauthorized gatherings, and commercial hawking around the locations. This security measure follows concerns raised by legal representatives regarding threats at the venues, though the Benue State Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, dismissed requests for an indefinite adjournment after securing safety assurances from the police. Governor Alia reassured the public that the tribunals will continue operating without interference and urged residents to remain calm while awaiting the final outcomes.
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