Controversies trail priest’s emergence as Benue APC gov candidate

Controversy continued with the appearance of the suspended Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia as an All Progressive Congress candidate for governor of Benue State in the 2023 elections.

A report aimed at the APC’s Benue State Governorship Appeal Panel’s recommendation to the National Working Committee to dismiss the party’s primaries was circulating on social media.

But the state APC Working Committee had dismissed the trending report, making it clear that no panel has the right to overturn the party’s primary election.

Others who want to join, among them, the national chairman of the PDP, Barnabas Gemade; former Attorney General Michael Kaase Aondoakaa; Prof. Terhemba Shija and Matthias Byuan made their submissions to the governing body, calling for the end of the study.

In a 11-page report dated May 31, 2022, circulating on social media, the chairperson of the appellate panel, Princess Uzoamaka Onyeama and Secretary Gyang submitted to the APC National Chairperson, Abdullahi Adamu, who said in various petitions filed by Guber. for those who wanted to run for office, there was overwhelming evidence that primaries were not held in Benue.

The report recommended that the total cancellation of the principal intention be canceled.

Part of the report reads, “It is the presentation of the members of the Review Committee that in the foregoing, the recent incident in Zamfara State and the most recent incident in the Anambra Province; that no major administrative elections have been held in Benue State and we recommend the following.

“That the NWC completely canceled the by-elections in Benue State and held new elections as INEC extended its term of office until June 9, 2022.

“To avoid putting the party in a laughing stock and in the community like in Anambra State. That the party should avoid prosecution.

“A few of the applicant submission papers submitted to us did not have a guber agent or a person declared agent to prove that the result forms were produced and declared genuine.”

“How is it possible that any election result of the 815, 452 vote will have at least one invalid vote?

“We, the appellate body, have unanimously agreed that it is not a true reflection of the credible results of the election, nor is it statistically significant, it is a clear indication of the inclusion of candidates in the House of Representatives. , in secret places, ”he said.

But the APC’s provincial secretary for the province, Daniel Ihomun, described the report, which has been circulating on social media as “false, vicious and cruel”.

“The so-called false and absurd report is that the political party appeals party does not have the power to cancel any first election.

“That the election that marked the appointment of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is active and reflects the aspirations of many APC members throughout the Benue region.

“That Rev. Fr. Alia still holds the flag of our team in Benue Province and is ready to take the victory over the weak and hollow Umbrella team.

“That our full members across the country should ignore the details and continue to support and believe in the APC.”