Attah Ede Makurdi
The Benue State Independent Electoral Commission(BSIEC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, conducted Local Government Council elections and Ward congress simultaneously without hitches or acrimony.
While the election conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC was meant for the entire people to elect local government chairmen and councilors across the 23 LGCs in the state, the Ward Congress was meant for the elections of 3 adhoc state delegates who would be voting for State and National Assembly aspirants, as well as governorship aspirants of the party in the forthcoming PDP primaries holding as from May 7th, 2022.
The ward congress was held in accordance with provisions of PDP constitution and the Electoral Act of Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
However, many people were not comfortable with the arrangements.
They wonder why the leadership of PDP decided to fixed the date of wards congresses on a day that the state government is conducting election involving several political parties in the state.
Reacting to the exercise, the state’s chapter of the party expressed satisfaction that the exercise was successful in all the council wards, saying they had elected 3 delegates from each of the wards peacefully.
Briefing newsmen in Makurdi, the state publicity secretary of the party, Mr. Bemgba Iortyom, said PDP has no problem conducting its ward Congress on a date BSIEC was conducting election for Chairmanship and councillorship elections in the development.
He maintained that the two exercises were part of electoral mandate and party privilege to be enjoyed members, saying those elected as delegates would enjoy an ad-hoc status and constitute part of the electoral college at its indirect primary elections slated for next month, to nominate candidates for the State and National Assembly as well as Governorship elections coming up in 2023”.
Mr. Iorytom commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for diligently monitoring the exercise in each of the council wards in strict compliance with provisions of the law.
“Equally, Benue PDP lauds the order and security maintained at each of the venues of the exercise by Security agencies which contributed immensely to its successful conduct and outcome.
“It is our faith that the next round of congresses slated at the various stages and the National Convention will enjoy similar success in reflection of the robust internal democracy culture of our great party”, Mr. Iortyom told newsmen.
The primaries for the purpose of electing candidates for the State House of Assembly would hold May 7; House of Representatives, May 12; Senate, May 14; gubernatorial, May 21; while the national convention holds in Abuja between 28th and 29th May, 2022.
