Utsev calls for peace as SGF’s wife, Mark’s Daughter, 79 others contest APC House of Reps primaries in Benue

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mrs Regina Akume and daughter of the former Senate President David Mark, Mrs Blessing Onuh were amongst the 81 aspirants contesting for the House of Representatives primaries under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State.

A list released at the early hours of Saturday indicates that Vandeikiya/Konshisha federal constituency where the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia hails from has the highest number of 14 aspirants while seven aspirants are contesting the Gboko/Tarka federal constituency where the SGF, Senator George Akume hails from.

Among the contestants is the wife of the SGF, Mrs Regina Akume.

The daughter of the former Senate President and now the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC) David Mark, Mrs Blessing Onuh is contesting with three other aspirants for Otukpo/Ohinmini federal constituency.

At the time of filing this report, the state APC was filled with a mammoth while aspirants and party members were receiving voting materials which were being distributed for the primary elections.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, had commended the peaceful atmosphere in the state expressing optimism in the credibility of the exercise.

The Minister, who spoke in Makurdi after his visit to the APC State Secretariat where electoral materials were being distributed to officials, said he was in the state to participate in and observe the conduct of the APC primaries, noting that similar exercises were taking place simultaneously nationwide.

“Today I’m here in Benue State to witness and participate in our great party’s primaries. That is the APC primaries in Benue, which at the same time is taking place across the whole country,” he said.

The Minister explained that his visit to the secretariat was to assess the level of preparedness by party officials and ensure that arrangements for the primaries were proceeding smoothly.

He said early signs from the distribution process indicated that the exercise was organized and peaceful, with party officials already collecting materials for deployment to various locations.

He said “I have come, I have seen that people are collecting materials and everything is going on well,” Utsev stated.

He called on party members, aspirants and supporters to maintain peace and conduct themselves responsibly throughout the exercise in order to guarantee transparent and acceptable primaries.

“I pray that let there be peace, let there be that atmosphere that will give a conducive reason for us to carry out free and fair primaries.”

Prof. Utsev also expressed optimism that the process would produce candidates who truly reflected the wishes of party members and the electorate in the state.

He said the successful conduct of the primaries would not only strengthen the APC in Benue State but also reinforce public confidence in the party’s internal democratic process.

“I believe that at the end of the day, the people of Benue State will be very happy, Nigerians at all levels will be very happy by electing those that they have chosen to represent them,” the Minister stated.

Earlier, Chairman of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee Benue State, Alh. Sabiu Mahuta, while distributing the election materials said they were prepared, organized and committed to conduct the elections.

He said “We want the situation to be peaceful as we have been preaching and assuring since yesterday. We want to reiterate that we are here to ensure transparent, fair, credible and by the grace of God, acceptable primary elections, APC, in this state.

He said the materials were being shared to all the 23 local government returning officers, saying “We expect them to go and also share for all the ward under their respective local governments. The election, like we mentioned yesterday, is going to be for all the registered members of APC.

“We are going to use the register of the certified members of APC for each ward.
We are going to use the register to do accreditation for anybody who will vote in this primary election. We are going to also give you the result sheet for each ward and each local government.

“We want you to know that we are for everyone and we are for nobody. As far as you are a contestant in this great party, you have been actually screened by the party.
We have the list of candidates for every position, House of Representatives and all the senatorial elections.

“Where we have a consensus, we want a letter in a way that it can be proven that this person is really the original writer of that letter, for record purposes.”

He prayed for a peaceful election and prayed that whoever emerges the winner in the election be successful in the secondary election so that the APC will continue to dominate all the positions in Nigeria
from the president to the last position.

The APC Chairman in the State, Benjamin Omale said the party is fully prepared for the exercise. He noted that the party is supreme and every member is expected to pay respect to the party.

Omale said “The governor is doing well and preparing ground for everyone to be in the party. The security agencies are fully on ground and I’m sure that at the end, the exercise will be successful.”