Benue rerun: IPAC laments over threats by APC to subvert electorates

INTER-party Advisory Council, IPAC in Benue State has decried threats emanating from some leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC to subvert the will of the Benue people through underhand tactics in the rerun Governorship election.

Chairman of the council, Godwin Ede who stated this in Makurdi yesterday alleged that APC leaders have been threatening to have the candidate of their party announced as the winner of the Governorship election regardless the massive lead of Governor Ortom of the PDP.

Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate, Samuel Ortom was in a clear lead with 81,554 votes over his closest rival, Mr Emmanuel Jime of the All Progressives Congress, APC before the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC declared the election and some State Assembly elections in some constituencies inconclusive.

Hon Edeh also, averred that winners of some of the elections were declared and they had equally expected a clear winner in the Governorship polls because the voice of the people was loud and clear enough across the state with a majority of them lining up behind the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governor Samuel Ortom.

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“We give the Commission the benefit of doubt regarding their decision. Unfortunately, signals emanating from the APC in the state are disturbing, to say the least.

“We recall that after the announcement by the INEC Returning Officer declaring the Governorship elections inconclusive, the APC State Collation Agent, Barrister Joseph Abaagu, enthusiastically accepted the decision, stating that the law courts should be the resort of anyone aggrieved.

“Few days after, the APC changed the narrative claiming that there was massive rigging in some parts of the state. This they have failed to substantiate.

“As stakeholders and major participants in the elections, we can testify that the process was to a large extent free and fair and that the people of the state have chosen the PDP as their first choice.

“Moreover, as grassroots leaders, we had felt the purse of the people and concluded that they preferred the PDP, and this explained why we chose to cast our lot with the party’s Governorship candidate, Samuel Ortom. Subsequent events in the state have proved us right with his strong performance in the last election.

“We, therefore, call on the APC to stop casting aspersions on the decisions of the people, but to rather accept defeat in good faith, the council said.