The member representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State, Arch. Asema Achado has stated Governor Hyacinth Alia “was busy in closed-door prayers” together with his officers, whereas his most popular candidate for the Guma 1 State Constituency primarily election was acutely defeated.
Arch. Achado, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, had in November 2023, by way of an open letter to Alia, suggested the Governor to dedicate time to attending to official issues and authorities actions, relatively than utilizing workplace hours meant for enterprise of governance for prayers.
Additionally in December, whereas the Benue APC Nationwide Meeting Caucus was briefing the press in Abuja on how Fr. Alia was working the affairs of the state like a parish, Arch. Achado reiterated his touch upon how prime authorities functionaries, important stakeholders and leaders of the occasion would drive to Authorities Home, Makurdi, to debate problems with state significance with Alia, solely to be advised that the Governor wouldn’t be accessible for such assembly as he could be engaged in marathon prayers for over 4 hours.
Taking to his private Fb web page Saturday night, Hon. Achado mocked Governor Alia for failing to provide the Guma 1 State Meeting candidate of the occasion and making an attempt to cancel the method after it was lengthy achieved and the Electoral Committee had lengthy arrived Abuja with the consequence.
“I like my Governor, therefore my recommendation to him two months in the past, to sleep/pray within the night time and work within the day”, Achado posted on Fb.
He added, “the nationwide Home of Meeting main election was scheduled to carry right this moment by 8 am. In Benue State, it began about 9 am and ended about 10 am.
“Our prayerful Governor was locked up in prayers together with his officers until midday. The APC electoral officers performed the first election and left, whereas our prayerful Governor was praying or sleeping.
“How do you droop a course of which has been concluded? A course of you don’t have any management over. Haba”.
It will be recalled that the Guma 1 State Constituency seat within the State Home of Meeting was declared vacant following the resignation of Dr. Yamar Ortese who was appointed a commissioner.
An election to fill the vacant place is predicted to be performed subsequent month, therefore, the first election to select the occasion’s candidate.
Within the election performed beneath heavy safety on Saturday by the Prof. Kabiru Ibrahim-led 2024 APC Bye-election primaries committee, Hon. Uche Peter Terwase defeated his solely rival, Hon. Maurice Orwough.
Uche, who is alleged to have the backing of Hon. Dickson Tarkighir of Guma/Makurdi Federal Constituency, polled a complete variety of 25 votes to defeat Governor Alia’s annointed candidate, Hon. Orwough who polled solely three votes.
Saying the consequence on the Avine Agbum Resort in Daudu, Guma Native Authorities Space, which additionally served because the collation Centre for the first election, Prof. Kabiru, Chairman of Main Election Committee acknowledged that “the election was not solely free, honest and credible however represented the desires of APC members in Guma 1 State Constituency”.
However in a twist of occasion, Governor Alia declared that he was cancelling the election.
He stated the election was marred by safety breaches and irregularities.
In the meantime, the state working Committee of the APCA has congratulated Hon. Terwase on his “properly deserved victory” on the polls.
An announcement signed by Daniel Ihomun, the State Publicity Secretary of the occasion, quoted the State Chairman, Comrade Austin Agada, as “commending APC members in Guma for a peaceable main election,” whereas thanking “them for his or her present of maturity throughout the main election”.