Akume’s wife, Mark’s daughter win as Alia’s camp sweeps Benue APC Reps primaries

By Peter Duru

Allies of Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, recorded sweeping victory in Saturday’s All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Representatives primaries across the state, leaving loyalists of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, with heavy losses.

The results of the 11 Federal Constituencies’ election released by the Chairman of the APC National Assembly Election Committee for Benue State, Alhaji Sabiu Mahuta, showed that only the wife of the SGF, Mrs. Regina Akume, and the daughter of former Senate President, Senator David Mark, Mrs. Blessing Onuh, secured victories, while other aspirants allegedly aligned with Senator Akume, including several incumbent lawmakers, were overwhelmingly defeated.

In Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, former Commissioner for Information, Peter Egbodo, defeated the incumbent lawmaker, David Ogewu, polling 12,993 votes against Ogewu’s 120 votes.

The incumbent lawmaker for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency and ally of Governor Alia, Solomon Wombo, retained his seat after polling 63,274 votes to defeat Julius Atom, who secured 811 votes.

In Gwer West/Gwer East Federal Constituency, incumbent lawmaker Asema Achado lost his bid for re-election after polling 729 votes, while David Nongo emerged victorious with 19,729 votes.

Similarly, in Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency, anotyer strong ally of the Governor, Livinus Tsar defeated incumbent lawmaker Sesoo Gboko, polling 28,549 votes against Gboko’s 693 votes.

In Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, member of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Okpokwu State Constituency, Anthony Agom, polled 19,124 votes to defeat William Obande, who scored 1,188 votes. The incumbent lawmaker in the constituency had earlier defected from the APC to the Labour Party, LP.

For Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, incumbent lawmaker Ojotu Ojema secured 11,305 votes to defeat state lawmaker Abu Umoru, who polled 608 votes.

In Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Prof. Kohol Iornem defeated incumbent Terso Ugbo after polling 40,672 votes against Ugbo’s 750 votes.

Christopher Ikper also defeated the incumbent lawmaker representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Dickson Tarkighir, polling 37,844 votes to Tarkighir’s 1,746 votes.

In Buruku Federal Constituency, incumbent lawmaker Sekav Iortyom lost after polling 1,396 votes, while Gideon Inyom emerged victorious with 10,470 votes.

However, in Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency, Mrs. Regina Akume emerged victorious with 19,638 votes, defeating her closest rival, Alumun Orpin, who polled 2,779 votes.

Also, in Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, Mrs. Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President and African Democratic Congress, ADC, National Chairman, Senator David Mark, secured victory with 17,451 votes, defeating former Commissioner for Information, Lawrence Onoja, who polled 974 votes.

Speaking on the delayed announcement of results, the Chairman of the Election Committee, Alhaji Mahuta, explained that the committee postponed the declaration till Sunday to avoid late-night travels by returning officers.

“We had wanted to start announcing the results even at 12 midnight, but we discouraged late-night travels by the returning officers. That is why we are doing it today,” he said.

Mahuta described the APC election as “a family affair” and urged members to cooperate with one another in order to strengthen the party.

Meanwhile, it was reliably gathered that several defeated incumbent lawmakers have rejected the outcome of the primaries and were already making moves to challenge the results.

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