By Aloysius Umalo, Makurdi
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, North Central Nigeria, have appealed to party members to uphold peace, unity and transparency ahead of the party’s primary elections in the state.
The call was made by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, and the Benue State APC Chairman, Benjamin Omale, during the distribution of electoral materials for the House of Representatives primaries.
Professor Utsev, who visited the APC secretariat to witness the distribution of sensitive electoral materials, said his presence was aimed at demonstrating confidence in the process and encouraging stakeholders to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the exercise.
He confirmed that electoral materials had been officially released by the returning officers for onward distribution to the 276 electoral wards across the state, expressing optimism that the process would be conducted in an orderly and credible manner.
The Minister urged party faithful, aspirants and supporters to maintain a peaceful atmosphere and embrace coexistence in the interest of democracy and the unity of the party.
According to him, the primaries should be free, fair and transparent to guarantee the emergence of candidates acceptable to all members.
Professor Utsev further stressed that peaceful conduct during the exercise would strengthen internal democracy within the party and reinforce public confidence in the electoral process.
He expressed hope that the outcome of the primaries would ultimately serve the collective interest of the people and contribute to national development.
Speaking separately with journalists, the Benue State Chairman of the APC, Benjamin Omale, reiterated the determination of the party leadership to ensure a smooth, credible and peaceful conduct of the primaries across the state.
Mr. Omale described the Minister’s visit to the party secretariat as significant, noting that it reflected the renewed spirit of unity and reconciliation among previously aggrieved members of the party following the peace initiative championed by President Bola Tinubu.
Reacting to concerns over the late distribution of electoral materials, the APC Chairman maintained that the priority of the party was to ensure a seamless and properly coordinated exercise rather than rush the process.
He assured party members that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to guarantee peaceful conduct of the primaries devoid of rancour, violence or acrimony.
Earlier while distributing the electoral materials, the Returning Officer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the House of Representatives primaries in Benue State, Mr. Sabiu Saidu Mahata reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to conducting a peaceful, transparent and credible exercise across the state.
The Returning Officer acknowledged the delay in the commencement of activities, attributing it to logistical and security arrangements.
He, however, assured party members and stakeholders that the committee arrived fully prepared and better organized to deliver a successful exercise.
He recalled that the committee had earlier pledged to arrive at the venue as early as possible for the conduct of the primaries, stressing that despite the delay, the officials remained committed to ensuring fairness and credibility throughout the process.
The Returning Officer announced the commencement of the distribution of election materials to the 23 Local Government Returning Officers, and charged them to in turn distribute the materials to various wards within their respective councils for the smooth conduct of the primaries.
According to him, only duly registered members of the APC would participate in the voting process, explaining that certified party membership registers for each ward would be used for accreditation of voters during the primaries.
He further disclosed that result sheets for both ward and local government levels would be issued, adding that agents of all contestants must endorse the results before submission for collation and official declaration.
On consensus arrangements, the Returning Officer stated that where aspirants had agreed on consensus candidates, the party would require written letters of withdrawal or concession from all affected contestants.
He stressed that such documents must be verifiable and formally communicated to the state party leadership before affirmation processes could take place.
Mr. Mahata warned returning officers against partisanship, insisting that every aspirant remained a bonafide member of the APC and deserved equal treatment.
He added that the party would not tolerate any action capable of undermining the credibility of the elections.
The Returning Officer also explained that mechanisms had been put in place to address disputes or situations where elections could not hold in any location.
He assured stakeholders that all complaints would be handled fairly in line with party guidelines.
He informed that after the distribution of materials, local government returning officers would proceed to their various areas for the conduct of the primaries, while final collation and announcement of winners would take place at the designated collation centre at the end of the exercise.
