May 29, (THEWILL) – The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries ended in Makurdi, Benue state, with Revd Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia beating Engr Barnabas Gemade and twelve others, to secure the party’s ticket ahead of the 2023 general election.
Announcing the result in Makurdi on Saturday, the chairman of the governorship electoral panel, Dr Peter Ogie, said Father Alia polled a total of 526,807 ahead of former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Barnabas Gemade, who secured 2,265.
According to Dr Ogie, an Abuja business mogul, Dr Mathis Byuan, was placed second with 113,816, while Samuel Odeh, securing 79,369 votes came third, even as the former deputy governor of Benue state, Chief Steve Lawani, polled 46,882 votes to come forth in the contest.
According to the result, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) got 24,596, Mr Terlumun Ikya had 3,680, Arch Bernard Yisa scored 742, Terwase Orbunde 12,446, Herman Hembe is with 470 votes.
The chairman of the governorship electoral panel, listed other aspirants like Surveyor Godwin Tyoachimin as scoring 1,218, with Professor Terhemba Shija having 1,048, while Mr Mlanga Ayom scored no vote at the polls.
Doctor Ogie said total votes were 868,000, while accredited ones stood at 817,472. The Votes cast at the polls stood at 815,452 and all valid.
Reacting to the development, the state chairman of APC, Comrade Austin Agada, commended delegates for speaking their minds, devoid of any influence.
He said the leadership of the party in the state has given back to the electorate to decide who represents them; saying delegates have decided on Revd Fr Hyacinth Alia to fly the flag for 2023, so as to crush out what he referred to as ‘maladministration’ of the PDP administration in the state.
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