APC risks defeat in Benue, Onoja, Abu warn, reject Reps primary results

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

Two aspirants in the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries for the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency in Benue State, Mr. Lawrence Onoja and Mr. Andrew Abu, have rejected the outcome of the exercise, alleging widespread irregularities and warning that the party could suffer defeat in the 2027 general elections if the issues are not addressed.

The aggrieved aspirants described the primary election as fraudulent and accused party leaders of undermining democratic processes through what they termed “illegal selection” instead of a credible primary.

The two aspirants gave the warning while speaking with newsmen at the APC secretariat in Makurdi, shortly after submitting their petition against the exercise.

Andrew Abu condemned the conduct of the primary, alleging that election materials were diverted and results manipulated in favour of the declared winner.

He said “Some persons think they are too powerful, so they absconded with materials to a hotel while our supporters were waiting eagerly for the primaries to take place.

“My appeal to the national leadership of the party and Mr. President is that we cannot condone this injustice.

“The seat should be rotated and we have a general election ahead. If the party is not careful, it may suffer defeat. They should address this anomaly because, as far as I am concerned, there was no primary election but an illegal selection in Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency.”

Also speaking, Lawrence Onoja, son of retired General Lawrence Onoja, also faulted the process, alleging that election materials were taken to Ochacho Hotel in Otukpo, where results were allegedly written and allocated to each contestant.

“Zoning has always existed in the constituency. It has been two terms for Ohimini and two for Otukpo. Otukpo is finishing its second term, but unfortunately the incumbent is someone who has been boasting that she has the money to buy it all and, to a large extent, she has succeeded,” Onoja alleged.

Both aspirants said they had formally petitioned the party leadership and expressed hope that the APC national secretariat would intervene and ensure justice in line with the party’s constitution and INEC guidelines.