APC crisis deepens as national working committee orders repeat governorship primaries in Benue council areas
With only a few hours left to submit the list of candidates that have emerged in various primaries organized by political parties, the National Working Committee of the ruling Congress of All Progressives has ordered a new race for the primaries of governorate in 12 local government areas in Benue.
Chairman of Benue’s gubernatorial re-election committee, Joel Omajali, revealed this when he addressed APC members in Makurdi on Thursday, News Agency of Nigeria reports.
According to Omajali, the communes concerned are Kwande, Ushongo, Buruku, Konshisha, Ogbadibo, Agatu, Ohimini, Ado, Oju, Okpokwu, Obi and Apa. He, however, said that in Buruku LGA, the replay would only take place in three council wards, namely Mbaya, Mbaapen and Binev.
He acknowledged that the party was in a race against time, as it was the last day for parties to submit candidate names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We have a schedule for this exercise. We are expected to deliver our results no later than 5:00 p.m. today as this is the last day for all primaries. If we don’t do it now, then Benue will risk not having a candidate. Thus, the returning officers will be dispatched on time. »
On June 4, the CPA appeals committee recommended the cancellation of the gubernatorial primaries.
The Benue APC had passed direct primaries which the governors congress held on 27 May.
The primaries produced a suspended Catholic priest, Hyacinth Alia as the winner.
The appeal committee, however, submitted a report to the APC National President, Abdullahi Adamu, on Saturday in Abuja.
The report was signed by Benue APC Primary Election Appeals Committee Chairman Uzoamaka Onyeama and Secretary Gyang Dung Gyang.
The committee said it had received petitions and reports from stakeholders and party members, including gubernatorial aspirants Barnabas Gemade, Terhemba Shija, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), that said gubernatorial primaries n did not take place.
“The few score sheets presented to us by the contenders curiously no longer had any agent of the gubernatorial contenders or agent of the declared candidate to prove the score sheets produced and declared authentic,” the report said.
“It is the submission of the members of the appeal committee that of the above, the past event of Zamfara State and the most recent and most potent danger to Anambra State; that no gubernatorial primary has been held in Benue State and we recommend the following; that the NWC cancel the gubernatorial primary election in Benue State in its entirety and hold new elections.
