From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Chairman, Benue State Electoral Commission, BSIEC, Barr. Richard Terlumum Tombowua has said that the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC asked him to work with the care taker committee led by Benjamin Omale in dealing with the party.
This is even as he expressed readiness of the Commission to conduct free, fare and credible election.
Barr. Tombowua who gave the assurance while briefing newsmen on Thursday at the Commission’s headquarters in Makurdi, disclosed that they carried out verification of candidates for the election on September 12,2024, adding that on Monday 16, 2024, political parties returned names of substituted candidates.
He also added that on Tuesday 17 September, 2024 the commission displayed the list of substituted candidates by the political parties.
“The election date still stands at October 5, 2024. On our part, we are ready to conduct free, fair and credible election. Initially, 14 political parties indicated interest to participate in the election but at the end, 8 parties are fielding candidates to contest in the election. The parties include, African Action Congress, AAC, All Progressives Congress, APC, Labor Party, LP, New Nigeria Peoples’ Party, NNPC, Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Social Democratic Party, SDP and Zenith Labor Party.
“The House of Assembly approved our budget of 6 billion naira and as for payment, we are getting it as it is coming. We have procured 21 vehicles and made provision for sensitive and non sensitive materials to enable us conduct the election.”
