Supreme Court Affirms Herman Hembe As Benue LP Guber Candidate

The supreme court has affirmed Herman Hembe as the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Benue.

In a unanimous ruling on Thursday, Helen Ogunwumiju, the judge, dismissed the disqualification request filed by Benjamin Lorlumum, the LP member, on the grounds that it lacked merit and legal backing.

Last year, Lorlumum contested against Hembe during the party’s governorship primaries.

The apex court ruled against the appeals seeking the disqualification of Hembe from the race.

In its final judgment, the supreme court held that Hembe had sufficiently proved that he resigned from the APC through “affidavit evidence and letter of resignation”.

Ogunwumiju said the law did not sanction participation in two primary elections since the respondent did not participate from the two political parties at the same time.

While upholding the concurrent findings of the federal high court and the court of appeal, the judge said that there was no reason to upset the findings.

She subsequently dismissed the case of the appellant for lacking in merit and upheld the nomination of Hembe as lawful for Labour Party’s participation in the March 18 gubernatorial election in Benue state.