By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC,Ward and Local Government Congress Committee for Benue State, Dr. Alwalu Ishiye has assured party members of a free and fair ward congress exercise.
Ishiye gave the assurance in a chat with journalists at the APC Secretariat in Makurdi, after distributing congress materials to returning officers of the 276 council wards across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
He explained that the national screening committee had confirmed the work done by the local committee, and that the party was ready for the ward congresses.
Ishiye stated that the national screening committee equally announced that those who bought forms for the purpose of the congress should come and submit them at the party’s Secretariat in Makurdi, adding that during the exercise only one set of forms were presented to the national screening committee.
” Having certified what the local screening committee did,we came to conclusion that truly,Benue APC is ready for congresses and that is why today materials are being distributed for the conduct of ward congresses”,he said.
He revealed that at the time of distribution, there were no competing aspirants on one position stressing that what is on their custody are one set of forms with one person contesting a particular position
According to Ishiye, each council ward will elect 27 executive members, 27 executive members for the local government,while 36 executive members will be elected for the State Working Committee, SWC, of the party respectively.
The Acting Chairman of the APC in Benue State, Dr. Benjamin Omale, commended the local government screening committee for doing a thorough job and charged party members to conduct themselves in an orderly manner.
State Organizing Secretary, James Ornguga explained that four committees from the national secretariat of the APC including that of Screenings, Screening Appeal Committee,Ward and Local Government congresses and the Appeal Committee that would look into cases arising from the ward congresses arrived the state and have commenced work with the screening committee completing its assignment.
He explained that the ward congresses would be conducted through direct, indirect, or consensus process, and expressed confidence that winners would emerge under a peaceful atmosphere.
