Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state has banned all forms of protests, unauthorized gathering, or commercial activities around the court premises hosting the Benue State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunals and also directed the beef up of security around the courts.
The order, which was contained in a statement by the Governor issued Tuesday through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, came following the anxiety the ongoing hearings at the Tribunals have generated.
The statement recalled that court premises in the State had remained closed since December 6, 2024 due to the ongoing strike by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, “consequently, all individuals and groups are directed to refrain from carrying out any form of activity within or around the court premises until further notice.”
The Governor assured of peaceful atmosphere for the continued sitting of the Tribunals in the open courts in State and “ensuring that due process is followed without any form of interference.”
He noted the time-bound nature of election petitions and directed that “only the Election Petition Tribunals be allowed access to the designated court premises where they are sitting.
“To ensure the safety and security of all concerned, His Excellency has put in place necessary security measures to protect members of the tribunals, petitioners, respondents, their legal representatives, witnesses and the tribunal secretariat.
“In the interest of maintaining law and order, he bans any form of protest, unauthorized gathering, or commercial activities such as hawking within and around the court premises. Anyone found violating this directive will face legal consequences.
“And as a firm believer in the judiciary and the rule of law, the Governor urges members of the public to remain calm and patient as they await the tribunal’s decisions.
“He reaffirms that since assuming office, Benue State has enjoyed relative peace on the security front, though some challenges persist.
“He assures the people of Benue that his administration remains committed to enhancing security and ensuring a safe and peaceful state for all.”
