No APC primary elections in Benue – Party Chieftain

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Benue State, Chief (Arch) Anthony Obekpa has declared there were no party primaries in the state.

Obekpa made the declaration on Saturday while reacting to an attack on Benue APC chairman, Hon Austin Agada in his local government, Ogbadibo, by party members over what they described as ‘fake and unfounded’ alleged election results from the local government where there was no election.

The Owukpa party leader reacted, “No primaries election took place in Benue state. The first notice from the NWC of our party slated an indirect primary to elect a governorship and house of assembly candidates for our party in the state for Thursday, 26th of May, 2022.

“Acting on that as the leader of the APC in Owukpa district of Ogbadibo LGA and a state delegate, I left Abuja for Makurdi to participate in the indirect primaries. While we waited till night without any sign of election, we were suddenly told that the mode of primaries has been changed to direct primary and subsequently asked to go to our various wards to vote.

“Again, I left Makurdi for my Ward, Itabono ward 2 in Owukpa district.

“In my Ward, we also stayed till night on Friday, 27th of May 2022, and there were no election materials, no party electoral committee member, and no accreditation of voters which made it impossible for any voting to take place.

“In the face of the confusion, I also got to the chairman of the party in my LGA, Ogbadibo, Hon. Abba Francis Ugwu was just as confused as I was. He sadly disclosed to me that as chairman he received no directive or notification from the state EXCO to the effect that election was going to hold in the LGA.

“It was a sad situation. Benue APC members were disenfranchised from participating in the process. This illegality has betrayed every progressive ideal the party stands for, and we are compelled to invite Mr President and the National Chairman of the party to intervene”.