May 17, (THEWILL) — The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, has urged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State to maintain order and calm during the ongoing party primaries. The exercise is aimed at electing the party’s flagbearers for the House of Representatives ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a visit to the APC state secretariat in Makurdi, the Minister explained that he was on ground to monitor and participate in the shadow elections.
“I am here at the APC secretariat to monitor the progress of the exercise. I have observed the orderly distribution of materials, and my prayer is for sustained peace. We need a conducive atmosphere that enables free and fair primaries so that, at the end of the day, the people of Benue State will be satisfied with the outcome”, Utsev stated.
The Minister expressed optimism that the transparent process would ensure that citizens successfully elect representatives of their choice to serve at all tiers of governance.
As results are being awaited, reports from across the state indicate that a heavy presence of security personnel deployed to key areas effectively ensured a peaceful and hitch-free exercise.
Confirming the situation in a telephone interview, an APC stalwart from the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Mr Joseph Jawunde, noted that despite the delayed arrival of electoral materials, party members waited patiently and conducted themselves peacefully throughout the voting process.
Similarly, monitoring within the Makurdi metropolis, specifically at the Walomayo, Clerk, and North Bank wards, revealed that party faithful turned out in an orderly manner. Commenting on the development, an APC member, Ibya Atom, attributed the peaceful conduct to the recent reconciliation and unity among party leaders in the state.
