The Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has given reasons why the scheduled All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries of Guma 1 State Assembly Bye-election was shifted to a yet to be announced date.
The governor at a press conference in Makurdi said he suspended the primaries, earlier fixed for Saturday January 6, 2024, to avoid a crisis in Guma local government area.
He said some big politicians from other local governments hijacked the process as well as officials who came to conduct the elections.
Alia said, “This poses some security threats in Guma local government and it became imperative for me to calm the nerves of all the party stakeholders, and delegates for the Bye-election primary down, who were feeling disenfranchised. In the last seven months, and counting, we have been experiencing relative peace, and efforts are being made by all the security agencies in the state that peace returns to the state permanently.
“So I wouldn’t want all those efforts we have put in place to be in vain. I wouldn’t want anything that would resemble or even trigger non peace and insecurity at any corner, not only in Guma local government, but the entire state. And this is why I suspend the delegate primary election that is expected to be in place today (Saturday 6 January, 2024).
“Sad enough, the party faithfuls came out to exercise their franchise but were stopped at the gate. Some big politicians from other local governments, came and hijacked the process and even the officials that
came in to do the elections, locked all the stakeholders out and then the youths were becoming quite emotional about the disenfranchisement and then I have to come in.
“Please, dear party faithful, you must assist me and all our security agencies to keep peace in the state. People are saying peace is returning to the state and it remains my prerogative to return even the IDPs back to their ancestral homes and farmlands.
“The same Guma local government where we are expected to hold this election is the most vulnerable local government in the state and if I don’t come in immediately to arrest the situation, a number of things can take place. I wouldn’t want any bloodshed. People get quite sensitive and sentimental on issues of politics.
So it remains my prerogative to maintain peace and security in the state.
“I have charged the security heads in the state to ensure that there is peace and calm in the local government just like any other local government in the state. I am working for you, and we are all working for the development of Benue State. That is my priority is your Governor,” said Governor Alia.
