APC Senate Primary:  Heavy Tension  Over Alleged Diversion Of Electoral Materials In Benue 

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

Fresh controversy has engulfed the All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial primary process in Benue State following allegations that electoral materials meant for the Benue North East Senatorial District were allegedly released to aides of former governor Gabriel Suswam ahead of the exercise. 

A top party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that materials designated for the Zone A senatorial primary had already been taken over by persons believed to be loyal to the former governor, raising fears among party stakeholders over the credibility of the exercise. 

According to the source, “Electoral materials for Benue North East Senatorial District have allegedly been released to his aides and the Returning Officers deployed for the exercise are also believed to be cronies and supporters of the former governor.” 

The source further claimed that materials meant for Guma and Makurdi Local Government Areas, LGAs, were allegedly diverted to a location in the New GRA area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, under circumstances that have heightened suspicion within the party. 

“Though the materials reportedly contain only registers and no result sheets have been seen, the development has created serious tension among party members who fear that the process may have been compromised even before commencement of voting,” the source stated. 

The allegations come amid mounting political pressure within the ruling party as different camps struggle for control of the APC structure ahead of the forthcoming general elections in the state. 

Party insiders disclosed that some aspirants and their supporters had already expressed concerns over what they described as attempts to impose unpopular candidates and supposed allies of the Governor against the wishes of grassroots members of the party across the state. 

The source said credible intelligence available to concerned stakeholders suggested that “unscrupulous elements” were perfecting plans to hijack electoral materials for the conduct of the senatorial primaries in parts of the state. 

“This development is coming against the backdrop of outright rejection and imminent defeat of unpopular candidates being tipped against the wishes of the majority of party faithful at the grassroots,” the source added. 

The concerned stakeholders, therefore, called on the national and state leadership of the APC to ensure transparency and fairness in the conduct of the exercise, warning that any attempt to manipulate the process could deepen divisions within the party. 

“We hereby call on the leadership of our great party, the APC, at all levels, to remain above board and ensure that the democratic process is not scuttled. Party members deserve a free, fair and credible primary election,” the source said.