By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State Government has disclaimed a video clip shown on Arise TV’s The Morning Show that has also gone viral on social media platforms, which recorded some people thumbprinting ballot papers purported to be during the recent local government elections in the state.
The government described the video as a desperate attempt to discredit the government and the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC).
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Mr Tersoo Kula, in a statement on Thursday said after a thorough review, officials found the video to be a stage-managed drama with no credible evidence linking it to the governor or his administration.
According to him, the government had received prior warnings of opposition plans to undermine the electoral process even as he claimed that the election was deemed transparent and violence-free, marking a significant milestone as the first time in years that voters had access to ballot papers for local government elections.
The government called on “journalists and media outlets, particularly Arise TV, which it said aired the misleading video,” to uphold professional ethics and verify facts before broadcasting.
“It is with great concern that we address the recent video circulating in connection with the local government polls held last Saturday.
“This video, which has been used to ridicule the Government of Benue State and the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, is nothing more than an unfortunate attempt by desperate individuals to score cheap political points.
“Upon thorough review, it is clear that the video is an obvious stage-managed drama, orchestrated by those who seek to undermine the good governance of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.
“We found no credible evidence linking this fabricated content to the governor or his administration.
“Prior to the elections, credible sources informed us of underhand plans by some opposition elements to discredit the electoral process. This video appears to be one of their tactics to cast a shadow over what was a transparent and violence-free election.
“It is important to note that this election marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time in many years that voters in Benue had access to ballot papers for local government elections.
“For the first time in Benue state, since the final resurgence of democracy in Nigeria, BSIEC recruited and meticulously trained all adhoc staff for the polls. There was also massive deployment of adhoc staff and sensitive and nonsensitive materials distributed in the full glare of the media and political party agents.
“This achievement should be celebrated rather than tarnished.
“We urge journalists and media outlets, particularly Arise TV, which aired the misleading video and accompanying commentary to uphold the ethics of their profession.
“As the light of society, it is crucial to cross-check facts and avoid being swayed by mere spectacle before going public.
“We remain committed to transparency and accountability in governance and will not be deterred by attempts to mislead the public,” the statement read.
