The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has reinstated 11 aspirants who were previously barred from participating in the party’s House of Assembly primaries. This decision came after the party’s appeal committee reviewed 50 complaints lodged by disgruntled aspirants following the initial screening results.
In a statement released on Thursday, the APC State Organising Secretary, James Ornguga, confirmed that 11 appeals were upheld, permitting those aspirants to proceed to the primaries. However, the remaining 39 aspirants had their disqualifications confirmed by the committee due to violations of party guidelines.
The committee, led by Abubakar Lawal with Ade Adetimehin as secretary and Ahmed Murtala as member, conducted a thorough evaluation of written petitions, supporting documents, and oral testimonies before reaching its conclusions.
Earlier, the APC screening committee in Makurdi had disqualified approximately 50 out of 148 aspirants vying for seats in the Benue State House of Assembly, citing breaches of party rules and constitutional requirements. Reports indicate that several incumbent lawmakers successfully passed the initial screening.
Among those initially disqualified were Wisdom Dominic (Otukpo/Ohimini), Ndiisaa Terhemen (Logo), Ologbo Edwin (Oju II), John Ogbu (Oju I), Patrick Ogwuche (Okpokwu), Ezekiel Elaigwu (Agatu), and Dr. Ukan Emmanuel (Gwer East). Others included Stephen Abanga (Ukum), Aondover Utsaha (Guma I), Shawo Aondoana (Kwande East), Agana Raphael (Oju II), Odeje Okoh (Ohimini), Agbeje Martins (Oju II), and Uko Solomon (Gaav).
Meanwhile, Daniel Ihomun, a supporter of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, stated that all aspirants aligned with his political group were cleared during the screening exercise.