TheCable

Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, says his victory at the supreme court has been dedicated to internally displaced persons (IDPs), farmers and civil servants in the state.

The supreme court earlier affirmed Alia as governor of Benue after dismissing the appeal filed by Titus Uba, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While delivering the judgment on Monday, John Okoro, who led the five-member panel of justices, said the appeals “do not qualify as post-election matters”.

In a statement on Monday, Alia hailed the supreme court for affirming him as governor, adding that the “decision only reaffirmed the time-honored mantra that power belongs to the people”.

He said he would prioritise the needs of the people and ensure their mandate which was “overwhelmingly” given to him is used for the good and welfare of the citizens.

“Governor Alia who hailed the judiciary saying they have proven once more that they are truly the last hope of the common man dedicates his victory to the ordinary Benue person on the street, farmers, teachers, market women, pensioners, IDPs, youths, and civil servants previously depressed and demotivated,” the statement reads.

The governor called on the citizens to continue to support the government to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

He also assured the people of his commitment to ensuring that the “fortunes of the state are turned around for good and for Benue to realise its potential and takes its pride of place in the comity of developed states in Nigeria”.