By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The Benue State Government has dismissed claims that automatic tickets were granted to elected officials following the last Sunday All Progressives Congress (APC) reconciliation meeting convened by Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
In a disclaimer issued by the chairman communique drafting committee, the state government described as false a sponsored advertorial circulating in some national dailies which alleged that the meeting endorsed automatic tickets for the governor, National Assembly, and State Assembly members.
The statement, signed by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Sam Ode, who chaired the drafting committee, clarified that no such resolution was reached at the meeting.
According to him, the published resolutions did not emanate from its work, noting that it only prepared a draft document for review and approval by the conveners -Governor Alia and SGF Akume.
“The committee merely produced a draft for input and approval. At no point did the draft contain any provision for automatic tickets for any category of aspirants,” the statement said.
It further stressed that any valid communique from the meeting would bear the signatures of the governor and the SGF, not those of members of the drafting committee.
The signatures attached to the controversial publication, it noted, were those of attendance at the drafting session and not authorisation.
The committee chairman accused unnamed individuals of sponsoring the advertorial to mislead the public and undermine ongoing reconciliation efforts within the party in the state.
It also pointed out that during the meeting, the APC National Vice Chairman, North-Central, Alhaji Muhammed Muazu Bawa, clearly stated that the party would adopt direct primaries for the nomination of candidates.
Reaffirming its position, the committee chairman maintained that it lacked the authority to issue or sign any communique on behalf of the governor or the SGF, who jointly convened the reconciliation meeting.
