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From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
The All Progressives Congress, APC has taken steps to elect their executives at the ward, local government and state levels across Benue State.
The ward congresses which commenced on Wednesday February 18, 2026, with the local government expected to hold on 21st February while the state congress is slated for 3rd March, 2026.
The congresses kicked in Benue State with the distribution of sensitive materials to the 276 wards in the State held at the party secretariat in Makurdi and conducted by the Chairman, Ward /LG Congress Dr Auwalu Ishya.
Addressing local government chairmen and ward returning officers Dr Auwalu intimated that they conducted screening of aspirants and one set of names were submitted.
He urged for transparency and a hitch-free congress, adding “I expect a peaceful conduct of the congresses because Benue is known to be a peaceful state”.
Benue State APC Caretaker Committee chairman Benjamin Omale urged party supporters to be orderly, disciplined and ensure they go with the National Working Committee, NEC regulations.
He said the Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has ensured adequate security to ensure that the congresses hold peacefully throughout the 23 local government areas of the state.
While giving details of the processes for the congresses, Publicity/Organizing Secretary of Benue State APC Hon James Ornguga said yesterday Tuesday 17th March, 2026, they received the national electoral committee from the national secretariat who are in the State to conduct the ward/local government congresses.
He said the committee include, the screening committee, the screening Appeal committee, the ward/LG government committee and the appeal committee that would look into any issue(s) that would arise from conduct of the congresses.
Said he, “when they arrived, they did a documentary screening looking at the nomination /expression of interest form that the various aspirants submitted to the party and they also made an announcement that anyone who purchased these forns should come and submit it to the secretariat and only one set of forms were presented to them.
“They did the screening and certified that Benue State is ready for the exercise and materials have been rolled out for the congresses.
“For now we do not have any competiting aspirants. From our record, we have only one set of people contesting one position. At the composition of ward/LG executives, each wards has 27 exco members and each LG has 27 executives and the state has 36.
“As they are electing the ward exco today, they will also elect five delegates who will serve as ward delegates for the state congress and another set of five delegates who will serve as LG delegate who would participate as delegates in the Saturday congresses we will be holding to have LG executives. We expect a hitch-free congresses.
“We expected that it will be a hitted congress but we only have one set of aspirants to a position so the competition would not be stiff as we are expecting. The party permits three modes in electing party officials either as party executives or during primaries. We have direct where every party members line up, indirect where delegates are used and consensus.
“The rule is that, where consensus is achieved, the people are expected to give a voice vote. Even if there is nobody contesting, INEC will still wish that you line up and the numbers be counted but this is ward delegate and it involves every registered member of the party in that ward and so, if they want to go and line up and elect their leaders, it is still fine and if they want to do voice vote, it is still okay.
“I purchased my form to go again because I have a window, the constitution of the party stops one from occupying a position for more than 8 years. So, I came to the secretariat in 2018 as Publicity Secretary and I returned as Organizing Secretary, I have 4 years left”.
