Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has suspended the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Guma 1 State Constituency. The move, prompted by a series of irregularities and escalating security concerns, adds to the mounting tension surrounding the upcoming by-election.
This development transpired just four hours after a faction within the state’s party structure, believed to be aligned with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, conducted an election and declared Uche Terwase Peter as the chosen candidate.
The discord commenced on Friday when Maurice Orwough, the consensus candidate put forth by Governor Alia’s faction of the party, was disqualified by the APC screening committee. This left Terwase Peter as the sole aspirant for the primary.
The Guma Local Government Area Caretaker Committee Chairmen supported the governor’s assertion of widespread insecurity in the region and highlighted how the process was allegedly hijacked.
Contrary to these assertions, the APC State Publicity Secretary refuted claims of insecurity and manipulation, providing an alternative account of what transpired at the primary election site.