Again, Fr. Alia wins Benue APC governorship primary

By Nicholas Dechi

Fr. Hyacinth Alia has again emerged the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Benue State in a rerun election concluded late Thursday in Makurdi, the state capital.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, had last week, ordered APC to conduct fresh primary elections for selection of its gubernatorial candidate for 2023 general election.

The court, had based on evidence submitted in a suit filed by a gubernatorial aspirant, Professor Terhemba Shija, agreed that the primary election held on the 27th of May by APC during which Fr Alia was declared as the governorship candidate of the party was not validly conducted.

However, Fr Alia polled 410,682 votes to again emerge the governorship candidate of Benue APC at the rerun primary conducted on Thursday, according to results announced by Chairman, Rescheduled Election Committee, Sen. Basheer Lado.

Lado said the first runner-up was Dr Matthias Byuan who polled 14,592 votes while the second runner-up was Sen. Barnabas Gemade who scored 5,125 votes.

Prof. Terhemba Shija scored 2,217 votes, while Mr Michael Aondoakaa and Mr Iorwase Hembe scored 3,815 and 638 votes, respectively.

“The winner of the exercise is Alia. Having scored the highest vote cast. I declare him as the winner,’’ Lado said.

Alia’s candidature was later ratified by members of the party through a voice vote.

The party chairman, Mr Austin Agada had put a question to members seeking to know whether the result was a true reflection of what transpired in the field and they answered in the affirmative.

“Having ratified Alia’s candidature, I therefore, declare that Alia is the governorship candidate of the party in Benue,’’ Agada said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

DND/ALLI