By Amos Aar
AS OCTOBER 5, 2024, date for the conduct of local government elections in Benue State draws nearer, the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) on Tuesday issued bio-data forms to all nominated chairmanship, deputy chairmanship and councillorship candidates who emerged victorious at the recent primary election to enable them fill their personal details.
While the bio-data forms for each chairmanship costs N100,000, that of deputy chairmanship and councillorship candidates cost N50,000 each, according to the caretaker state organizing secretary of the party, Mr James Ornguga.
National Record observed that in the All Progressives Congress (APC), candidates who procured the bio-data forms were those who purchased expression of interest and nomination forms and participated in the primary election processes conducted by the APC state caretaker committee.
Some chairmanship aspirants who spoke with our correspondent shortly after obtaining the bio-data forms, including Hon. James Melvin, APC- Agatu LG, Hon. Raymond Zege Aondoakura, APC- Guma, Comrade Adam Ochepa Ogwola, APC- Apa, Adole Oche James, APC- Ohimini, Odeh Ahonye Daniel, APC- Obi, among others appreciated their people and Governor Hyacinth Alia for deeming them fit for the mandate ahead.
While the chairmanship and councillorship candidates promised various projects for their people, they were unanimous in their assurances to run inclusive and open-door administration local government councils.
“Let me first of all thank Almighty God for this miracle. I also thank the God-fearing governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, for finding me worthy. Consequently, he has tasked me to work. The pressing issue in Agatu now is security, security, security before infrastructure and agriculture”, James Ejeh, Agatu chairmanship candidate promised.
Meanwhile, Comrade Dan-Morgan Ihomun, the spokesperson of Comrade Austin Agada-led state exco which was dissolved on August 21, 2024 by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) but is challenging the dissolution in court, kicked against the presentation of the bio-data forms to the candidates who emerged from the primaries conducted by the caretaker committee.
Morgan, in a statement, argued that since Benue State High Court sitting in Makurdi on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 declined ruling on a motion filed by Matthew Burkaa, SAN, to set aside an interim injunction earlier granted, restraining the NWC from dissolving Agada’s Exco, everything done by the caretaker committee would not hold water.
Morgan had also on August 26, 24 posted on Facebook, a list of successful candidates in the Saturday, 24th August 2024 primary elections conducted by the dissolved Agada’s Exco.
