Elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State have urged caution regarding the recent dismissal of the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Ikpambese. The party leaders also criticized the APC Elders Forum for its attacks on Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, in relation to this matter. During a press conference held in Makurdi, the state capital, Dr. Laha Dzever, representing the PDP leaders, expressed disapproval of the suspension of lawmakers linked to the Chief Judge’s removal. He stated, “We advise the State Assembly to revert all actions to their previous state, as many of the suspended lawmakers are PDP representatives serving various constituencies and must be permitted to fulfill their responsibilities as the voices of the numerous citizens they represent. Therefore, we firmly request that the assembly lift the suspension, which is an anomaly and contradicts democratic principles.” It was reported that only three of the thirteen suspended lawmakers, including William Ortyom (PDP/Agasha), Emmanuel Onah (PDP/Oju I), and Solomon Gyila (PDP/Gwer West), are affiliated with the PDP.
In contrast, the ten suspended APC lawmakers include Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South), Jonathan Agbidye (APC/Katsina-Ala East), Beckie Orpin (APC/Gboko East), Simon Gabo (APC/Mata), Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East), Anyor Matu (APC/Kwande East), Manger Manger (APC/Tarka), Samuel Agada (APC/Ogbadibo), Abraham Jabi (APC/Buruku), and Ezra Nyiyongo (APC/Ukum). Regarding the suspension of Chief Judge Justice Maurice Ikpambese, the elders emphasized that the judiciary, as an independent branch of government, should remain free from political interference. They warned that any such attempts could jeopardize democracy. “We urge the Benue State House of Assembly to act judiciously and responsibly, ensuring that decisions regarding judicial officers are made with integrity and fairness, and fundamentally grounded in democratic values.”
We place equal importance on the necessity of transparency and accountability within governance. The recent actions undertaken by the APC-led government in the state have raised significant doubts regarding its sincerity and integrity. The PDP Elders in the state urge the APC administration to implement open governance practices that would enable the public to hold the government accountable.
Moreover, we encourage the APC elders to recognize that the privileges of age, experience, and leadership confer upon us a duty to communicate in a manner that is more conciliatory than confrontational, more accommodating than combative, and more measured than vitriolic in our discourse. The foremost responsibility of elder statesmanship is to foster, support, and advocate for peace, which is essential for the societal stability that our beloved state of Benue currently requires. It is unelderly to act otherwise.