APGA calls for cancellation of Benue LG polls

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has called for the immediate cancellation of the just concluded Local Government (LG) polls in Benue.

The Benue Chairman of APGA, Mr Joseph Ogli, made the call in an interaction with newsmen on Monday in Makurdi.

Ogli said that APC winning all 23 local government areas in the election was an embarrassment to the state and to Gov. Hyacinth Alia.

He said over N6 billion was released to the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) for the conduct of the election that did not hold.

According to him, candidates were forced to pay between N250, 000 and N500, 000 outside screening fees, which different political parties paid.

“APGA in the state encouraged its’ members to contest for the local government election on the ground that Benue has a clergy and a priest as governor.

“We believed that he would provide a level playing field for all political parties to contest in state.

“We were shocked that a clergy can conduct an election that APGA or any other political party cannot win a councillor were we had popularity.

“This is purely a setback for our democracy and a miscarriage for the third arm of government.

“We are calling on all lovers of democracy to speak against this “afternoon robbery” called an election by the BSIEC chairman who has succeeded in destroying the integrity of the governor,” Ogli said.

Ogli said the party candidate, Mrs Winifred Azumi, the chairmanship candidate for Agatu Local Government area, would seek legal redress in court and called on their supporters to remain calm.