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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Ward and Local Government congresses of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Benue State have been concluded with the committee describing it as satisfactory and transparent noting the orderliness and candor of members of the party in the State.
The Chairman of the Ward/LG Congress, Benue State, Usman Musa and a member of the committee, Barr. Bala Maraka who briefed newsmen shortly after collating the results at the party secretariat in Makurdi, said the congresses were peaceful and hitch-free.
They observed that there were no form of violence acknowledging the cooperation of security agencies, INEC officials, party officials and the Caretaker committee towards the success of the congresses.
“We are the Ward/LG state committee set up by the National Working Committee, (NWC) to come and conduct the congresses
“However, there is an event that is left for tomorrow and the appropriate committee will be doing that tomorrow. But for us here, we have concluded and we thank most sincerely the cooperation of security agencies, Independent National Electoral Commission staffs, party officials statewide.
“Most particularly, we extend our gratitude and appreciation to the state chairman of APC and his other staffs for the support and cooperation we received from them.
“Most fundamentally, our sincere gratitude goes to the state Governor, Rev Fr Alia, for his fatherly reception, his fatherly advice and for his fatherly counsel. The very day we arrived, he received us, he counseled us and he advised on how best we should go about this peacefully, we should do it within the confines of the laws and regulations of our great party, APC.”
Responding to allegations that there were parallel congresses and committee during the exercise, the committee debunked it outrightly insisting that there was only one committee authenticated by the NWC which is theirs.
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“We are the only group sent to come and conduct congresses for all local government areas for Benue State. As far as we are concerned, we are within the mandate, we have given our materials to whoever that is concerned, and the results are perfectly returned and we have collected the same, so I gladly tell you, this committee is the only genuine committee for Benue State.”
The committee chairman also refered anyone in dout to confirm the names of the participants from the APC website.
Commenting on the mode of the congresses, the chairman noted that while the congresses, the ward and local government, is elective, the constitution of the APC also provides for consensus adding that where there is consensus, affirmation confirms it.
“So, this is why you hear from the returning officers, there is affirmation, there is consensus. They are all within the rules and guidelines of the constitution of APC in Nigeria.”
The Committee chairman who stated that they went for monitoring in three local governments; Makurdi, Tarka and Gboko said, “I can tell you without mincing words that we are really satisfied with all that we have seen there.
“From the arrangements to the provision of security, orderliness of the congresses, as well as the candor and the unity of all APC members in the three local governments we have visited. We give kudos to the APC family in the state”.
Earlier, APC Chairman in Benue State, Chief Benjamin Omale applauded the committee for conducting a succeessful local government congresses, descring them as men of integrity and professionalism adding that their support Benue was greatly appreciated.
Omale also lauded the State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia for providing an enabling environment for the exercise to hold, described the entire exercise as admirable and a job well done.
