The All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded its ward and local government congresses in Benue State, with the congress committee declaring the exercise peaceful, transparent and hitch-free.
Chairman of the Ward/LG Congress Committee for Benue State, Usman Musa, alongside committee member Barr. Bala Maraka, briefed journalists on Sunday at the party secretariat in Makurdi at the end of the exercise.
They expressed satisfaction with the conduct of party members across the state, commending what they described as orderliness and unity throughout the process.
The committee said no incidents of violence were recorded, attributing the success of the congresses to the cooperation of security agencies, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), party stakeholders and the APC caretaker committee.
Musa stated that the committee was duly constituted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to conduct the congresses in all local government areas of the state.
He dismissed allegations of parallel congresses, insisting that only one committee was authorised by the NWC to oversee the exercise in Benue.
According to him, materials were distributed accordingly, results were collated and returned to the committee, and due process was strictly followed.
On the mode of election, the committee explained that while ward and local government congresses are elective, the party’s constitution provides for consensus arrangements, adding that where consensus was reached, affirmation was used to validate the outcome, in line with APC guidelines.
The committee members disclosed that they monitored the exercise in Makurdi, Tarka and Gboko local government areas and expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements, organisation and participation of party members in the areas visited.
They also appreciated the support received from party officials in the state and commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for what they described as his counsel and encouragement to ensure a peaceful process conducted within the party’s constitutional framework.
In his remarks, Benue State APC Chairman, Benjamin Omale, lauded members of the congress committee for their professionalism and integrity.
He described the exercise as a milestone in the political history of the state and thanked party supporters for their cooperation throughout the process.
