May 23, (THEWILL) – The Benue state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), arising from a stakeholders meeting, have adopted direct primaries in the forthcoming conference to elect flag bearers for various positions in the state.
At a meeting in Makurdi on Sunday, the Zonal Deputy chairman for Benue North East, Barr Vincent Uji, moved the motion and was supported by senator Jack Gyado, while Chief Akange Audu of zone B and Alhaji Usman Abubakar of Benue South, all toyed same way.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, noted that Benue people voted for APC at various elections in the state, but such were mismanaged by governor Samuel Ortom, who is now in the PDP.
According to him, Benue people are now in hunger, angry, poor at the moment and call on aspirants to redeem the people, if not, they will remain in penury in times to come.
Senator Akume warned money bags planning to hijack and buy over delegates to look elsewhere, because it is the entire members that will decide their fates at the primaries as he promised not to influence victory for any aspirant.
“There are some aspirants who cannot win in their ward, but are hosting money to buy delegates. Nobody can buy me. If you have money, go and enjoy your money.
“Remember what happened in 2015. A blind man is wise. He will not allow a repeat of such a thing. I made a mistake and Suswam and Ortom became governors. Today, I leave it to you people to decide who are APC flag bearers in 2023.”
The Minister, who urged aspirants to make sacrifices for the benefit of the party, said he withdrew from APC national chairmanship race that produced Alhaji Abdulahi Adamu.
He described President Muhammadu Buhari as a leader that has done so much for Benue state in the past seven years, listing such a giant stride at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi.
According to him, the APC government has provided electricity at Yandev in Gboko local government, Ado and is rehabilitating the Adoka-Naka-Makurdi road.
Most of the governorship aspirants like Fr Hyacinth Alia, Prof. Terhemba Shija, Matthias Byuan, Godwin Tyoachimin, Arch Bernard Yisa and Pastor Terwase Orbunde, Dr Sam Odeh, were present, while Engr Barnabas Gemade, Herman Hembe, Steve Lawani, Michael Aondoakaa were conspicuously absent at the meeting.
