- as committee lauds exercise as ‘satisfactory’
From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The ward/local government congresses of the All Progressives Congress, APC have been concluded in Benue State with the committee expressing satisfaction with the orderliness and condor of members of the party in the State.
Chairman, Ward/LG Congress, Benue State. Usman Musa and a member of the committee Barr Bala Maraka while briefing newsmen at the conclusion of the exercise at the party secretariat in Makurdi, said the congresses were peaceful, transparent and hitch -free.
They also, observed that there were no form of violence acknowledging the cooperation of security agencies, INEC officials, Party officials and the Caretaker committee towards the success of the congresses.
“We are the ward/LG state committee set up by the National Working Committee, NWC to come and conduct the congresses
“However, there is an event that is left for tomorrow and the appropriate committee will be doing that. But for us here, we have concluded and we thank most sincerely the cooperation of security agencies, independent national electoral commission staffs, party officials statewide.
“Most particularly, we must extend our gratitude and appreciation to the state chairman of APC and his other staffs for the support and cooperation we received from them.
“Most fundamentally, our sincere gratitude goes to the state governor of Benue State, Rev Father Alia, for his fatherly reception, for his fatherly advice and for his fatherly counsel. The very day we arrived, he received us, he counseled us and he advised on how best we should go about this peacefully, we should do it within the confines of the laws and regulations of our great party, APC.
“The state chairman should please extend our profound appreciation, his excellency, for this wonderful feat of his. We are very grateful. And we equally thank every other staff and member of APC family in Benue State that actually supported us in seeing the success of this exercise”.
On allegation that there was a parallel congresses and committee, they debunked it outrightly insisting that there was only one committee authenticated by the National Working Committee, NWC.
“We are the only group sent to come and conduct congresses for all local government areas for Benue State. As far as we are concerned, we are within the mandate, we have been given our materials to all, we are here, we are giving our materials to whoever that is concerned, and the results are perfectly returned and we have collected the same, so I gladly tell you, this committee is the only genuine committee for Benue State.
“Let me ask something, if you want to confirm, you can go to our website, APC website to confirm the names of the participants.
Commenting on the mode of the congresses, they opined, “Yes, irrespective of your question, these congresses, the ward and local government is elective. However, being elective by the constitution of our great party, APC, there is the provision for consensus. And where there is consensus, affirmation confirms consensus.
“So, this is why you hear from the returning officers, there is affirmation, there is consensus. They are all within the rules and guidelines of our constitution of APC in Nigeria.
“We went for monitoring. And we were in three local governments, Makurdi, Tarka and Gboko.
Yes, I can tell you without mincing words that we are really satisfied with all that we have seen there. From the arrangements to the security, the provision of security, orderliness of the congresses, as well as the candor and the unity of all APC members in the three local governments we have visited. We give kudos to the APC family in the state”.
Benue State APC chair Benjamin Omale lauded members of the committee as men of integrity and professionalism, acknowledging their sacrifice and dedication.
He also thanked party supporters for their cooperation, noting that the congress was a milestone in the history of Benue politics.
