Benue ADC crisis: No primary election held in Apa/Agatu — Okwu

The Chairman of the Benue State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Samson Okwu, has declared that no valid primary election was conducted in the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency following allegations of violence, disruption, and hijacking of electoral materials.

Okwu made the declaration while addressing journalists in his office on Friday, following a petition submitted by one of the House of Representatives aspirants for Apa/Agatu, Joy Okpainmo.

In her petition, Joy Okpainmo alleged that there were no electoral materials available for the exercise, claiming that suspected thugs took over the venue, assaulting and harassing party members and supporters.

Reacting, the party chairman said a fresh date would be announced for the conduct of a new primary election in the constituency.

He called on aspirants and their supporters to remain calm, assuring them that all grievances and complaints arising from the failed exercise would be properly addressed.

“There was no primary election in Apa/Agatu,” Samson Okwu stated, adding that the party leadership would ensure fairness and credibility in the rescheduled exercise.

The latest development comes amid growing controversy surrounding the conduct of the party’s primaries in the constituency.

Earlier, David Olofu, a senatorial aspirant of the African Democratic Congress for Benue South Senatorial District, had condemned the alleged hijacking of electoral materials during the party’s primary election in Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency. 

In a statement signed by the Secretary of the David Olofu Campaign Council, Friday Adakole Elijah, the campaign alleged that armed men intercepted the vehicle conveying electoral materials alongside the Apa Local Government ADC Chairman, Hon. Sharon Adokpe.

The statement further claimed that the attackers allegedly forced the party chairman out of the moving vehicle before fleeing with the electoral materials to an unknown destination.

“The David Olofu Campaign Council strongly condemns the alleged forceful snatching and diversion of electoral materials intended for the African Democratic Congress primaries in Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency,” the statement read.

The campaign council maintained that no legitimate primary election took place under the circumstances and urged the state and national leadership of the African Democratic Congress to reject any result that may emerge from the disputed exercise.

Benue ADC crisis: No primary election held in Apa/Agatu — Okwu