Benue APC gov’ship primary a disgrace to democracy – Orbunde

.alleges diversion of materials, allocation of votes

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Benue State, Mr. Terwase Orbunde, has rejected the results of Thursday’s primary election, calling the process a “disgrace to democracy” and a threat to party unity.

Orbunde, who finished second in the poll, spoke shortly after Governor Hyacinth Alia was declared the winner. He alleged that election materials were diverted and that results were allocated to aspirants without actual voting.

According to Orbunde, the primary failed in most parts of the state. He said that party members who turned up to vote were denied the opportunity to do so.

“Of the 276 council wards, there was hardly anywhere that the materials were taken to. People waited, some in the rain, we didn’t see anybody, just for the results to be announced this morning,” he said.

He maintained that the outcome could not be accepted by genuine party faithful, warning that the situation could seriously damage the APC in Benue if left unaddressed.

“Of course, we are petitioning against it, and we feel it is even a danger to the party because the people waited patiently and saw nothing, and then the result has been announced. It cannot be acceptable. It is not at all,” Orbunde said.

Despite his protest, the former Chief of Staff to the Governor urged supporters to remain calm, stating that he would pursue the matter through the party’s internal dispute‑resolution mechanism.

“But I will not stand here and tell you all my plans, but definitely I am ready to pursue this to the ultimate destination because it is endangering our party, and we do not want the APC in Benue State to suffer any damage as a result of the action of some people,” he added.

He further urged calm: “Like I said earlier, everybody should be calm. The party has an internal mechanism for resolving disputes. We will follow it to its logical conclusion, so we have advised our supporters to be calm and wait for the outcome.”

Another aspirant, Mr. Jeffery Kuranun, who finished third, also rejected the result, describing the exercise as a sham that should not stand.

Kuranun claimed widespread irregularities, stating that no credible primary took place in many parts of the state due to the diversion of election materials.

“There was no elections because materials for the election were diverted and I have video evidence of what transpired and showed that I won the election where it was conducted,” Kuranun alleged.

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