The All Progressives Congress (APC) has made a clean sweep of the local government chairmanship elections in Benue State, winning all 23 chairmanship seats and 276 councillorship positions across the state’s 276 council wards.
This was announced by the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) chairman, Terlumun Tombowua, on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Governor Hyacinth Alia welcomed the outcome, attributing the APC’s success to the party’s commitment to grassroots development and the people’s trust in its leadership.
“This victory is a testament to our party’s dedication to empowering local communities and delivering dividends of democracy. We will continue to work tirelessly to address the needs of our people and ensure Benue State remains on the path of progress,” he said.
The opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), congratulated the APC on its victory, with Associate Professor Cletus Tyokyaa describing the election as peaceful and transparent. Chairman of the Benue state chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Ibrahim Idoko, also congratulated the APC on its victory.
However, Senator Abba Moro, representing Benue South and Senate Minority Leader, condemned the elections, describing it as a sham and an insult to democracy.
Moro alleged that election materials and officials were nowhere to be found, except in APC leaders’ premises where ballots were allegedly thumb-printed for their candidates.
He expressed disappointment in Governor Hyacinth Alia for not standing by his campaign promises of truth and due process.
Moro urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to remain calm, assuring that everything legally possible will be done to challenge the election outcome in court and ensure a free, fair, and credible election that allows the electorate to choose their local government leaders.
The senator emphasized that democracy was fiercely fought for, and anti-democratic forces will not be allowed to undermine the system.
