Makurdi, Benue State — Governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Mr. Terwase Orbunde, has rejected the outcome of Thursday’s governorship primary election, describing the exercise as a “disgrace to democracy” and a serious threat to the unity of the party in the state.
Orbunde, who emerged second in the contest, spoke shortly after Governor Hyacinth Alia was announced winner of the primary election conducted across the state.
The former Chief of Staff to the Benue State Governor alleged that election materials meant for the exercise were diverted, while results were allegedly allocated to aspirants without actual voting taking place in many areas.
According to him, the election process failed in most parts of Benue State, leaving party members disappointed after waiting for hours without seeing electoral officials or materials.
“Of the 276 council wards, there was hardly anywhere that the materials were taken to. People waited, some in the rain, we didn’t see anybody, just for the results to be announced this morning,” Orbunde said.
He maintained that genuine APC members could not accept the outcome of the primary, warning that the development could create serious problems within the party if not properly addressed.
“Of course, we are petitioning against it, and we feel it is even a danger to the party because the people waited patiently and saw nothing, and then the result has been announced. It cannot be acceptable. It is not at all,” he added.
Orbunde, however, appealed to his supporters and party faithful to remain calm, assuring them that he would challenge the outcome through the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism.
“But I will not stand here and tell you all my plans, but definitely I am ready to pursue this to the ultimate destination because it is endangering our party, and we do not want the APC in Benue State to suffer any damage as a result of the action of some people,” he stated.
He further said: “Like I said earlier, everybody should be calm. The party has an internal mechanism for resolving disputes. We will follow it to its logical conclusion, so we have advised our supporters to be calm and wait for the outcome.”
Another governorship aspirant, Mr. Jeffery Kuranun, who came third in the contest, also rejected the outcome of the primary election, describing the exercise as a sham.
Kuranun alleged that widespread irregularities marred the exercise, insisting that no credible election took place in many parts of the state because election materials were allegedly diverted.
“There was no elections because materials for the election were diverted and I have video evidence of what transpired and showed that I won the election where it was conducted,” Kuranun alleged.
The controversy surrounding the APC governorship primary in Benue State continues to generate reactions among party members, with many awaiting the next line of action from aggrieved aspirants and the party leadership.
