The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has recently issued a directive to its party Chairmen who are stationed in the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. This directive emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the zoning of the Chairmanship and Councillorship positions occurs in their respective LGAs. This measure is being taken to prevent any potential conflicts or acrimony as the state prepares for the upcoming Local Government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024.
It is worth noting that earlier this week, the Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Dr. John Chen, had made a significant announcement regarding the council poll, which had initially been slated for November 16. He revealed that this election date has now been moved forward to October 5, 2024, as a proactive response to meet the new deadline imposed by a recent ruling from the Supreme Court.
During the announcement of this new election date, which took place midweek, Dr. Chen hosted members of the Benue State House of Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters and Civil Society. The committee was led by its Chairman, Mr. Abu Umoru, and they gathered at the Commission’s headquarters located in Makurdi for this important meeting.
In his address, Dr. Chen was represented by the Commission’s Secretary, Dr. Vincent Gisaor, who articulated that the shift in the election date had been necessitated by the recent ruling from the Supreme Court, highlighting the significant influence that legal decisions can have on electoral processes.
In relation to these developments, the State Executive Committee of the APC released a statement over the weekend that was signed by its acting Chairman, Mr. Benjamin Omakolo. The statement instructed the local party Chairmen to promptly convene stakeholder meetings within the various LGAs. The primary purpose of these meetings is to finalize the zoning arrangements for the Chairmanship and Councillorship positions within each LGA.
The statement outlined the expectations surrounding the meetings by stating, “In light of the forthcoming Local Government elections and the commencement of relevant programs, the State Executive Committee of the APC in Benue State, under the capable leadership of Benjamin Omakolo, has directed party Chairmen across the 23 LGAs to organize meetings with stakeholders to finalize the zoning of Chairmanship and Councillorship positions.”
Moreover, the meetings are expected to be conducted no later than Tuesday, July 30, 2024, across all 23 local governments within the state. In addition, the caretaker committee chairmen have been urged to take on logistical responsibilities to ensure that these zoning meetings run smoothly and without any hitches, emphasizing the importance of thorough preparation in the electoral process. This proactive approach underscores the commitment of the APC leadership to fostering unity and cooperation within the party as they head into the elections.
