Benue State’s APC faced internal strife on Saturday as Governor Hyacinth Alia declared the prompt suspension of the Guma 1 State Constituency bye-election primary, aimed at selecting the party’s candidate.
The declaration unfolded four hours subsequent to the party structure in the state, perceived to be aligned with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, orchestrating an election and proclaiming Uche Terwase Peter as the party’s chosen candidate.
The turmoil commenced on Friday with the exclusion of the consensus candidate, Maurice Orwough, presented by Governor Alia’s faction of the party, by the APC screening committee. This left Terwase Peter as the sole aspirant for the primary.
Supporting the governor’s assertion of prevailing insecurity in the area and the hijacking of the process, the Guma Local Government Area Caretaker Committee Chairmen presented their accounts.
In contrast to these allegations, the APC State Publicity Secretary refuted claims of insecurity and manipulation, offering a different narrative of the events at the primary election venue.