Benue APC group hails INEC’s decision on NASS primaries

A group of youths under the aegis of the National Youth Vanguards for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its decision to upload the names of National Assembly candidates who emerged from the various primaries conducted and officially monitored by the electoral body across the state.

The group’s Secretary, Samuel Adikwu, gave the commendation on Friday in Makurdi during a press briefing.

According to him, the decision underscores the party’s commitment to internal democracy, which, he said, was reflected in the results announced as the will of millions of party members during the National Assembly primary elections monitored by INEC.

Adikwu said: “The decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to upload only the National Assembly candidates who emerged from primaries monitored by the commission will go a long way in resolving the impending crisis in the All Progressives Congress across the country.”

The APC National Working Committee had, two weeks ago, substituted the names of some National Assembly candidates in some states, including Benue, with those of serving National Assembly members.

The action generated controversy within the ruling APC, with some candidates who felt cheated threatening to go to court to reclaim their mandates.

Two days ago, the commission, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, stated that it would compare the results submitted by all registered political parties on its portal with the reports submitted by its monitors across the country.

He said: “At our own end, we have uploaded those who emerged from the primaries. So, we are waiting for them to come and upload all the forms they are supposed to upload to the portal. When they do that, we will compare what they have submitted with the reports from our monitors, which we have uploaded.”

Adikwu said that with the clarification, the commission had once again proved its credibility.

The group urged President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the party’s National Working Committee, led by Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, to refrain from imposing what it described as illegality on the ruling party.

The group further stated that Governor Hyacinth Alia had delivered the dividends of democracy to Benue State across several sectors, including road infrastructure, healthcare and education.

It added that the governor had initiated projects ranging from roads in previously inaccessible communities to improved healthcare facilities and modern educational infrastructure, including multi-storey buildings, which it described as unprecedented in the state’s history.

The group urged Governor Alia not to lose sight of his administration’s development agenda aimed at improving the standard of living of Benue residents, while assuring him of its total support to ensure the success of his administration and the All Progressives Congress in the state.

It also pledged its unalloyed loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and assured him of massive mobilisation across the state ahead of his re-election bid in 2027, noting that Benue has benefited immensely from his administration’s capital projects.