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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Groups and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) drawn from Ushongo and Kwande Local Government Areas (LGAs) has staged a peaceful protest in Lessel, the headquarters of Ushongo LGA, calling on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to respect the outcome of the House of Representatives primary election for the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency.
Recall that Prof. Kohol Iornem was declared the winner of the May 16 APC Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency primary election having polled 40, 672 votes to beat five other rivals for the ticket including the incumbent, Rep Terseer Ugbor, who polled 750 votes.
The protesters are concerned over reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Nomination Forms had been presented to Rep Ugbor, the incumbent whom the protesters say they “did not vote for.”
While insisting that the outcome of the party’s primary election held on May 16 be upheld, the protesters warned that any action contrary to the votes cast by party members would undermine the democratic principles upon which the party is built.
Led by notable APC members, including Ken Kaase, Hon. Aondolumun Ordorugh, and Hon. Fidelis from Mbakuha, who spoke individually, the protesters urged the APC leadership to protect the integrity of its internal democratic processes and ensure that the votes of party members during the party primaries are respected.
They argued that the decision of party members should not be disregarded, and especially not in a constituency where retaining the House of Reps seat in Kwande seems too unfair to the Ushongo people who haven’t occupied the seat for 16 years.
The protesters warned that imposing a candidate contrary to the wishes of party members could create disaffection, weaken party unity, and diminish the APC’s electoral strength in the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It was gathered that the protesters marched to the Ushongo Local Government Council Secretariat and the Chairman’s lodge, where they were received by the council Chairman Hon. Terkimbir Adzu, who acknowledged the concerns and assured that their grievances would be communicated to the governor.
The demonstrators were seen with placards bearing inscriptions such as “Give Us Back Our Mandate. Reps is for Ushongo,” “We Didn’t Vote Terseer Ugbor, We Voted Prof. Kohol,” “Tinubu, Save Our Democracy,” “We Can’t Vote for Someone Else and Another is Announced,” “Direct Primaries? Indirect Primaries? Consensus? How Did Terseer Ugbor Emerge?” “20 Years of Reps in Kwande is Unfair,” “Ushongo deserves it this time,” among others.
