The All Progressives Congress (APC) Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Campaign Council has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to as a matter of urgency act in line with relevant laws empowered by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC Regulations and Guidelines 2022 to conduct a supplementary election in Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency.
The wards are Aduge/Ogale, Iyah/Ayeh polling unit 006 wards, Ijumu local government in addition to Iyah unit in Otu ward, Kabba/Bunu local government and Egbeda Egga in Ijumu local government where elections were earlier cancelled.
This is according to a statement signed by the director general of the campaign council, Hon. Yahaya Ismail made available to newsmen in Lokoja.
He said the campaign council had further discovered that elections were also cancelled in Iyah/Ayeh and Aduge/Ogale wards which should also be included as parts of the areas supplementary election will be conducted in accordance with the electoral act 2022 and INEC Guidelines 2022.
He urged the commission not to compromise in doing the right thing as spell out in the electoral act and guidelines.
Ismail said the enabling law is very clear on what the electoral umpire should do when such issues arise that the principle of margin take its course where the lead between the two leading candidates is in excess of the PVC collected in the affected areas, noteing that in this case the vote margin between the two leading candidates is 262, whereas there were over 1800 PVCs collected in the four affected areas.
Jemgbagh Association Congratulates Benue Senator, Rep-elect, Laments Poor Development
The Abuja chapter of Jemgbagh Development Association in Benue State has congratulated Chief Titus Zam, Hon. Sekav and Hon. Mrs. Regina Akume on their victories in last weekend’s election to represent Gboko/Tarkaa and Buruku in the senate and House of Representatives respectively.
In a statement signed by the president, Abor Felix Terver and SECRETARY, Thomas Iangen, the association said it believes in oneness, unity of purpose, progress and development of Jemgbagh as a community which is non-negotiable, therefore, called those who lost to accept defeat and join the winners to build the Benue State of their dreams.
“In any given election, they shall be a loser, when good people refuse to exercise their civic responsibility, foolish people elect leaders who formulate policies that affect the masses in negative manner.
“The present administration has done its best, and we have every reason to believe that its policies are not friendly to Jemgbagh as a community. We have seen betrayals from all levels, even the government’s most ardent supporters.
It is pertinent to mention that the government is narcissistic, and cares only about a few.
“The government’s policy of not paying salaries and pensions has been particularly hard on Jemgbagh people and Benue State at large.
“Benue State have no industries, therefore, the good people of Benue State depend on government, but the non-payment of salaries and pensions has aggravated the level of poverty in our communities and Benue as a whole.To some point, the government viewed Jemgbagh as her as an enemy.
For the state government stamping it’s feet to oppose/challenge the siting of a Federal Polytechnic at Wannune and further refusing to issue the Certificate of Occupancy for the polytechnic till date is a clear demonstration of hatred.
“The deliberately attacked on our leaders left a sore test in the mouth. But for the sake of posterity, we are matching towards 06/12/2023 where it will be become history on the pages of papers. Thank you once more for exercising your franchise in the right direction,” the association said.
They lamented the sale of state government’s industries, while according to them, government failed to site any development project in Jemgbagh which comprises of Gboko, Buruku, and Tarka, despite numerous MoUs signed to create the impression that the government was industrialising Benue.
