By Aloysius Umalo, Makurdi
The Deputy Governor of Benue State in North Central Nigeria, Barr. Sam Ode, has dismissed claims circulating in some national dailies that an automatic ticket was approved for Governor Hyacinth Alia, members of the National Assembly, and the State House of Assembly in the just concluded peace and reconcilation meeting.
Sam Ode who was the Chairman of the Communiqué Drafting Committee, gave this indication in a disclaimer issued to Journalists in Makurdi.
In a statement, Ode clarified that the publication, which purported to be the outcome of the recent reconciliation meeting between factions loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and Governor Alia, did not originate from the official communiqué drafting committee.
He explained that the committee only prepared a draft document for review and approval by the conveners of the meeting, Governor Alia and Senator Akume, and that the draft contained no provision for automatic tickets for any category of aspirants.
Ode further noted that any authentic communiqué from the meeting would bear the signatures of the Governor and the SGF, not those of the drafting committee.
He described the use of committee attendance signatures in the advertorial as misleading and the handiwork of unidentified individuals.
The Deputy Governor warned that the publication undermines ongoing reconciliation efforts within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, stressing that the party’s National Vice Chairman had clearly stated during the meeting that candidates would emerge through direct primaries.
