By Amos Aar
MIXED reactions have trailed the primary elections purported to have been conducted Wednesday and Thursday, September 4-5, 2024 by the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the leadership of recently appointed state caretaker chairman, Hon. Benjamin Omale.
According to a list of the “nominated chairmanship candidates for the forthcoming local government elections” in the state, posted on Facebook by the state acting caretaker organising secretary of the party, James Ornguga, on Friday, those who emerged victorious at the polls include: Adi Timothy Nyiakura (Gwer East), Guda Terkura Dennis (Vandeikya), Keffi Joseph (Makurdi), Jonathan Modi (Ukum), Tyowase Kumasuun Elijah (Ushongo), Vitalis Terhile Neji (Kwande), and Yenge Raphael (Tarka)
Others include Shaku Justine O. Agabi (Katsina-Ala), Adah Matthew Inalegwu (Okpokwu), Adam Ochega Ogwola (Apa), Kav Clement (Logo), Melvin James Ejeh (Agatu), Adole Oche James (Ohimini), Chikyaa Moses Terfa (Konshisha), Orwough Maurice Hemen (Guma), and Zege Raymond Aondoakula (Buruku).
The remaining nominees are Odeh Ahonye Daniel (Obi), Maxwell Ogiri Ogiri (Otukpo), Ajunwa Ameh Sunday (Ogbadibo), Ormin Torsar Victor (Gwer West), Ominyi Jackson A. (Oju), Engr. Sunday Oche (Ado), and Barr. Torseer Yina (Gboko)
Ornguga also revealed in his post that 276 councillorship candidates were also successfully nominated.
He had earlier in a statement last Wednesday commended APC members for their peaceful conduct during the said primary election processes.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC), Benue State chapter has commended its esteemed members for their peaceful conduct during the primary election processes.
“The party praises the aspirants particularly, for conducting themselves well during the screening exercise of September 1, 2024 which lasted till September 2, 2024.
“APC is pleased that no form of violence has been reported anywhere during the process as those who have concerns with the screening exercise reports have since approached the Barr. Moses Atagher- led Screening Appeal Committee which has attended to all cases, paving the way for the immediate commencement of primary election yesterday, September 4, 2024, stretching to September 5, 2024 to be completed by 2pm today,” part of Ornguga’s statement read.
Reactions to the list were mixed with congratulatory remarks as well as condemnations from across the state.
While some commentators criticised the list alleging that primaries did not hold and that candidates were imposed by the leadership of the party, others, who congratulated the nominees claimed that the process was clean.
“This primaries [sic] get many mago-mago (malpractices) inside but that is politics for you, all losers should take it in good faith. Tomorrow is another day,” Tingir Johnson commented on Facebook.
Some people under the aegis of “Advocacy Support Group”, in a response to James Ornguga on the LG election primaries, said the polls did not hold in Kwande LGA and that the situation was the same in almost all the council areas.
They wrote: “A few hours ago, we stumbled on a piece of congratulatory message written by the Organising Secretary of APC in Benue State, Mr. James Ornguga.
“Therein, he congratulated those candidates who emerged victorious and urged party faithfuls [sic] to remain calm as the process will be concluded by 2pm today. How possible is this? Yet, the party has gone ahead to set up a post primary election Appeal Committee which is commencing sitting from 3pm.
“It is curious to note that in several LGs, primaries did not take place. Itemising those LGs he was congratulating their candidates would have set him on the path of honesty, truth or otherwise.
“Now, the issue, with particular reference to Kwande is that, the whole of yesterday, no one saw the election materials, even as party supporters and in fact aspirants waited in vain to perform their civic responsibilities.
“As this piece is written, Kwande is still in the dark as regard this exercise. Though several rumours flying around randomly have indicated that several unwholesome practices are hatched and been diligently implemented by some party elements.
“Disturbingly, it is already mid-day and no one has seen the electoral materials in Kwande. On the other hand, it has been stated that, an attempt to bring the materials to the open space met a stiff resistance as both the officials who spent the night in Adikpo with the contents were hijacked and the hijackers headed towards the Shangev-ya road.
“This is getting too embarrassing. The right thing must be done in order not to betray the trust reposed in the caretaker team. Party faithfuls [sic] should not be treated with this manner of reckless disdain. They have all the rights and privileges to know what happens.
“Kwande people are therefore calling on the Organising Secretary, Mr. James Ornguga, and indeed all the members of the committee, to face the exercise and conduct it with utmost transparency that it deserves,” the group stated.
Also reacting to the process and the outcome of the supposed direct primaries, a former governorship candidate in the state, 2019 on the platform of Action Alliance (AA), and 2023 governorship aspirant, Hon. Akpur Emmanuel Terfa, who is also the chairman, Divine Mandate Benue In Diaspora, condemned the imposition of candidates on the masses, using Governor Hyacinth Alia’s name and appealed to the governor to call such politicians to order so as to redeem his image.
“If Governor Alia allows career and business politicians to nominate chairmanship and councillorship candidates for him, they will destroy his good will, good governance, social justices, gender equality and his campaign promises to build the Benue State of our dreams. Governor Alia should allow the masses to choose their grassroots prefer candidates.
“Let the governor be reminded that the way through which he passed to where he is today, if things were done like this, he wouldn’t have been where he is today. You and I know what happened. If delegate election was conducted, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to buy delegates. If it were by consensus, he wouldn’t have been anywhere close to consensus. Direct primaries were conducted and that’s where the masses (support groups) turned up. So, if the same way he passed, today, career and business politicians want to deceive Benue people or use the governor’s name to impose their preferred candidates on the masses for their selfish interest in order to destroy grassroots politics and distance the governor from the grassroot masses’ support, and the governor is silent, it will be unfortunate. This is just the first attempt and they will succeed destroying everything.
“His silence is giving everybody, especially the career and business politicians and some of the caretaker chairmen, the guts to come and claim that governor says things should be done this way. Should we take it that governor says it like that?
“Governor Alia is the last hope for the common person in Benue State. He repeatedly said that, Benue State belongs to all citizens of Benue State, and every single person in Benue State is a stakeholder. So, the APC masses (support groups) should be given the privilege and opportunity at the grassroots to nominate / vote at the direct primary elections their prefer candidates in their respective local government for the forthcoming local government elections.
“The public outcry and lamentations for the political permutations, manipulations and intimidation for the alleged direct primary elections is a call for reflection and concern,” Akpur advised.
