Benue APC, PDP bicker over gov’ship election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State yesterday traded words over next week’s governorship election.

The state’s Publicity Secretary of APC, Daniel Ihomun, in a statement alleged that his party gathered credible intelligence that the PDP planned to cause trouble and rig the March 11, governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

The statement reads in part: “A secret meeting was also held recently in Government House where the plan was hatched to rig the governorship and House of Assembly elections that are slated for Saturday, 11/3/2023.

“The plan is to totally boycott BVAS, influence the reposting of INEC staff (polling officers, collation officers and returning officers), create violence in APC strongholds, engage in vote buying and use members of the recently established Community Volunteer Guards to instigate crises in border communities to whip up anti-Fulani and religious sentiments among the people for political gain.”

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But in a swift reaction, the PDP, through its state Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, said the APC had all reasons to be gripped by the fear they were exhibiting because they (PDP) under the leadership of Governor Samuel Ortom would not on March 11, blindly trust in the electoral system as they did on the February 25, elections but would maintain extra vigilance at the polling units and collation centres to ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act for the conduct of the elections.

He said, “APC in Benue has every reason to fear since March 11, will be more about our local situation here at home, about the people and what will be their fate under PDP who have promised and resolved to sustain the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law and progressively improve on its enforcement as a proven antidote to the land-grab agenda of the herdsmen.”

Meanwhile, the Edo State Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Kelly Agbaloi, has said the party was neither in alliance with the PDP nor the APC ahead of the March 11, governorship poll.

In an interview with newsmen in Benin yesterday, Agbaloi said, ‘We are not going to give in, rather we would go to the polls and win. Information reaching the hierarchy of LP is that the PDP has been engaged in last-minute manoeuvering, running nocturnal meetings and seeking ways to meet LP’s House of Assembly candidates.

“We unequivocally declare that we are going into the elections with all our hearts and therefore not holding consultations or alliance with any political party, be it PDP or APC.”