From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam and retired Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Benjamin Aber, have emerged as winners of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries in Benue State, defeating incumbent senators in their respective districts.
Suswam clinched the APC ticket for Benue North East Senatorial District (Zone A), defeating the incumbent senator, Emmanuel Udende.
Also, Benjamin Aber, husband of the Secretary to the Benue State Government, defeated serving Senator Titus Zam to secure the party’s ticket for Benue North West Senatorial District (Zone B).
Announcing the results at the APC Secretariat, the Chief Returning Officer for Zone A, Barr. Michael Tyo, said Suswam polled 131,083 votes to defeat Udende, who scored 1,364 votes, while Fidelis Unongo garnered 865 votes.
In Zone B, the Chief Returning Officer, John Ihembe, declared that Benjamin Aber secured 93,412 votes to defeat Senator Zam, who polled 2,763 votes.
For Benue South Senatorial District (Zone C), the Returning Officer, Barr. Peter Sani Ochijele, announced that Francis Agbo emerged victorious with 58,760 votes, defeating Gabriel Agidani, who scored 5,246 votes.
Chairman of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee, Alhaji Sabiu Saidu Mahuta, officially ratified the results and declared Suswam, Aber, and Francis Agbo as the duly elected APC senatorial candidates for Benue North East, Benue North West, and Benue South districts respectively.
Mahuta urged aggrieved aspirants to channel their complaints through the party’s appeal panel within 24 hours of the declaration of results.
He described the exercise as a family affair that should strengthen the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after his emergence, Benjamin Aber pledged to strengthen the APC structure in Benue State ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also promised to focus on poverty eradication and rural infrastructure development if elected.
“I will ensure that the rural people feel the impact of democracy,” he said.
