The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has been officially declared the winner of the recent elections held across all 23 Local Government Areas in the state. This announcement was made by Richard Tombowua, the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), at precisely 9:16am on Sunday.
In addition to the overall victory, the APC also secured all councillorship seats in 276 council wards throughout the state, leaving no positions for other political parties. This significant achievement highlights the party’s dominance in the recent electoral exercise.
Tombowua noted that while eight political parties participated in the elections, only five were actively involved in the process. The parties that took part included the All Progressives Congress (APC), Action Alliance Congress (AAC), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Both the APC and PDP entered the elections facing internal challenges and crises. Despite these issues, the BSIEC adhered to directives from the apex leadership of the parties when accepting the candidate lists for the polls.
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The BSIEC chairman commended the overall conduct of the elections, emphasizing that they were free, fair, and credible, with no significant problems reported. He described this electoral process as the best local government election in the history of the state.
Tombowua’s praise for the election process reflects a commitment to ensuring transparency and integrity in the electoral system. His assessment indicates a positive shift in the conduct of local government elections in the region.
Following the announcement of the results, Tombowua instructed the winners to report to the commission’s headquarters at 2pm on Sunday to collect their certificates of return. This step is crucial for the formal recognition of their electoral victories.
In summary, the successful conduct of the elections in Benue State marks a significant milestone for the APC and sets a precedent for future electoral processes in the region, fostering hope for improved governance and political engagement.
