The Coalition for Civil Society in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Advocates of Social Justice, has called on the federal government and security agencies to take urgent steps to prevent what it described as a looming civil unrest allegedly being orchestrated by some political actors in Benue State.
Speaking during a press conference held at Top Rank Hotel, Abuja, Chief Convener of the coalition, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, expressed deep concern over what he termed a systematic attempt to undermine the judiciary and destabilize the country for political gains.
According to Ude-Umanta, the group had petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice K.M.O. Kekere-Ekun, over the conduct of the Benue State Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, and Justice M. M. Adamu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, alleging judicial misconduct and political bias in their recent rulings regarding local government election matters in Benue State.
He accused Justice Ikpambese of granting a waiver to petitioners in the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal, allowing them to bypass the statutory security deposit required by the state’s electoral laws. He also criticized the decision to relocate the Tribunal and Appeal Tribunals to Abuja, describing it as a direct violation of the Benue Electoral Act.
While commending Justice Raphael Joshua Egbe of the Federal High Court, Makurdi, for ordering the tribunal to sit within the state as required by law, Ude-Umanta decried a contradictory order by Justice Adamu of the FCT High Court mandating the tribunal to sit in Abuja and barring it from sitting in Benue.
He applauded the tribunal members, including Hon. Justice D. E. Igoh, Evelyn Ngodoo Esq., and Adamu Stephen Jime Esq., for delivering unbiased judgments grounded in constitutional principles and urged others to uphold the same integrity.
Ude-Umanta warned of a growing threat to national security, claiming that some individuals, including former APC officials and serving lawmakers, are allegedly mobilizing over 20,000 people for a planned protest in Abuja aimed at instigating chaos and civil unrest. He linked this development to ongoing political rivalries in Benue State.
“The pockets of killings in Benue, which began after the tribunal ruled in favor of elected councilors from Benue North West, are not coincidental,” he said. “They are sponsored by enemies of the state who want to create a crisis and push for a state of emergency.”
He further accused some political figures of using cult groups to carry out violence while shifting blame to the Benue State Governor. Ude-Umanta maintained that security control remains under the purview of the federal government and called on security agencies to investigate and bring the culprits to justice.
He also issued a direct warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to “watch his back,” alleging that some appointees within his administration were actively working against his government under the guise of fighting the state governor.
“Mr. President, your enemies are within your government. These are people with access to stolen funds and security networks. They are sabotaging your efforts while pretending to support your administration,” he said.
The coalition urged the Inspector General of Police to act swiftly and prevent any attempts to incite violence, both in Benue and the FCT, warning that the situation could quickly escalate if not checked.
They concluded by urging President Tinubu to take decisive action against those within his administration who are allegedly backing the unrest in Benue, regardless of their rank or political affiliation.
