From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) has announced the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 23 local government chairmanship and 276 councillorship positions in Saturday’s local government election.
Announcing the results at the BSIEC’s Headquarters in Makurdi, on Sunday, the Chairman of BSIEC, Mr. Richard Tombowua stated that the ruling party recorded a clean sweep of the poll which was contested by five political parties out of the eight that indicated interest to contest the available positions.
He said the election was conducted in a peaceful manner apart from Otukpo Local Government Area, LGA, where the official of the Commission was held hostage but for the quick intervention of the police, who ensured her safe return to Makurdi.
The chairman said, “The APC won all the 23 local government chairmanship positions and all the 276 councillorship positions in the election.
“Eight political parties had indicated interest in fielding candidates, but only five parties participated in the election.
“The parties included the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party, SDP), Labour Party (LP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
“The outcome of the election would have been declared yesterday, but for distance and the logistics involved.
“The only incident we had was that our Otukpo official was held hostage, but the intervention of the Mobile Police, who rescued her and returned her safely to Makurdi.
He added that “I must state that we kept our promise of conducting a peaceful, free, fair and credible local government election in the state.”
Reacting, the State Chairman of LP and Inter-Party Advisory Council, (IPAC), Mr. Ibrahim Idoko, commended BSIEC for their efforts to ensure that the exercise was peaceful and credible.
On his part, the APC state chairman, Benjamin Omale, also commended BSIEC for conducting a free, fair, and credible election and appreciated the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, for ensuring a level playing field for all parties.
