Reverend Father Alia Wins APCs Rescheduled Primaries In Benue State

The Electoral Committee for the rescheduled Governorship Primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Benue State, North Central Nigeria, has declared Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia winner of the rerun exercise held in 11 Local Government Areas of the State.

Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Senator Basheer Lado, who declared results of the rerun primaries, said Rev. Fr. Alia scored a total number of 219,002 votes to defeat 11 other aspirants in the race.

According to the Committee Chairman, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Micheal Aondoakaa scored 606 votes while former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Barnabas Gemade polled a total of 450 votes.

Senator Lado also announced that former Minister of State Niger Delta, Dr. Sam Ode got 255 votes with House of Representatives Member, Hon. Herman Hembe scoring a total of 688 votes.

In other results, former Deputy Governor of Benue State, Ochagu Steven Lawani scored 120 votes, Dr. Matthias Ibuan secured 4,797 votes, Professor Terhemba Shija scored 219 votes, Arc. Benard Yisa scored 136 votes while Mr. Ayom Mlanga got 766 votes and Mr. Terwase Orbunde got two votes.

Senator Basheer Lado explained that Rev. Fr. Alia scored the highest number of votes after the results collated from the eleven Area Councils in the rerun were merged with those of twelve others earlier conducted by the party to arrive at the total figure.

He commended delegates who participated in the direct primaries for their orderliness during the exercise and urged them to keep faith with the party till victory was achieved at the general elections.

Reacting to the outcome of the rerun exercise at a Special Congress, Chairman of APC in Benue State, Comrade Austin Agada reaffirmed the determination of the party to bring Benue State back to development from the ruins under PDP leadership.

Agada said he has seen visible signs of victory is on the side of APC in Benue state with the re-emergence of Rev. Fr Alia at the rerun exercise.

In the meantime, an Appeal Committee set up by the national leadership of APC is scheduled to commence a one day sitting on Friday to entertain complaints from aspirants bothering on the conduct of the rescheduled primaries.

N.O