Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has called for a peaceful and transparent conduct of the All Progressives Congress presidential primaries in the state as electoral materials were distributed across the 23 local government areas ahead of the exercise.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the distribution of materials was completed at the Benue APC Secretariat in Makurdi under the supervision of the governor, who is serving as the Benue Central Returning Officer for the exercise.
The statement noted that the distribution process commenced as early as 6 a.m., with materials successfully dispatched to all the local government areas participating in the primary election.
According to the statement, Governor Alia had earlier received the electoral materials on Friday evening at the Government House before briefing stakeholders and displaying the parcels at the party secretariat around 10 p.m.
Addressing party officials and stakeholders during the exercise, the governor stressed the need for unity within the APC, insisting that the party remained bigger than any individual interest.
He charged Local Government Area Returning Officers to ensure a credible and fair process that would allow party members freely elect the party’s presidential flag bearer.
Alia further stated that the APC had delivered democratic dividends to Nigerians and remained prepared to retain power at all levels in the forthcoming elections.
Present at the exercise were members of the State Working Committee led by the Benue APC Chairman, Chief Benjamin Omale, local government party chairmen, local government executive chairmen, as well as other party stakeholders.