Benue: Our Congresses Were Lawful, Solid, Says Akume’s APC Camp

The Benue State Chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), loyal to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has declared that its recent ward, local government and state congresses were solid, lawful and rooted in the decision of the party’s National Executive Committee.

In a statement issued by Benue State APC Publicity Secretary, Daniel Ihomun, backed by Akume’s camp insisted their state congress was attended by over 1,800 elected and statutory delegates.

The statement further said that the state APC congress conducted by their camp, “was attended by two Senators, nine Members of the House of Representatives, sixteen Members of the Benue State House of Assembly, twenty-three Local Government Party Chairmen, and 276 Ward chairmen”

The statement added, “At the congress, the State Chairman Comrade Austin Agada and the State Executive Committee were affirmed for another four-year tenure, in line with the directive of the National Executive Committee of the party which approved the affirmation of existing party structures across the country. The congress was duly monitored by both INEC and officials from the National Secretariat of the party”

“The APC in Benue State remains united, focused, and resolute against political opportunists and power mongers. Our congress was solid, lawful, and firmly rooted in the decision of the National Executive Committee of the party,” the statement maintained.

However, the Benue State government had said no parallel All Progressives Congress (APC) congress was conducted in the state.

A statement issued by the technical adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on media, publicity and strategic communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev on Saturday said the government rejected what it described as false narrative on parallel congresses, adding that the report on APC parallel congress was false and misleading.

The statement said, “There was only one state Congress in Benue State, held at IBB Square, Makurdi, where Dr Benjamin Omale emerged Chairman. This Congress was conducted in the presence of representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Prof Sam Egwu, the REC and the National Working Committee (NWC) Election Congress Committee, led by Dr Auwal Isheyi, a delegation from the National Working Committee led by the Chairman, Nantawe Yilwatda,” the Benue state government explained.