Protests hit Kwande/Ushongo as APC members reject Kohol’s replaement, demand respect for primary’s outcome

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

Groups and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) drawn from Ushongo and Kwande Local Government Areas have staged a peaceful protest in Lessel, the headquarters of Ushongo Local Government Area, calling on the party’s National Working Committee to respect the outcome of the House of Representatives primary election for the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency.

Prof. Kohol Iornem was declared winner of the 16 May APC primary election, having polled 40,672 votes to beat five other rivals, including the incumbent, Rep. Terseer Ugbor, who polled 750 votes. The protesters said they were alarmed by reports that INEC nomination forms had been presented to Ugbor, whom they said they did not vote for.

Led by notable APC members including Ken Kaase, Hon. Aondolumun Ordorugh and Hon. Fidelis from Mbakuha, 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. They also argued that the Ushongo people had not occupied the House of Representatives seat in 16 years and that retaining it in Kwande would be deeply unfair.

Placards at the protest bore inscriptions including “Give Us Back Our Mandate. Reps is for Ushongo,” “We Didn’t Vote Terseer Ugbor, We Voted Prof. Kohol,” “Tinubu, Save Our Democracy,” and “20 Years of Reps in Kwande is Unfair.”

The protesters marched to the Ushongo Local Government Council Secretariat, where they were received by the council chairman, Hon. Terkimbir Adzu, who acknowledged their concerns and assured them that their grievances would be communicated to the governor.