Benue APC Primary: Group hails Alia, party leadership over Agom’s emergence in Enone

A pressure group, the Okpoga Now Movement, has hailed Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the emergence of Rt. Hon. Anthony Atta Agom as the party’s candidate for the Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency seat.

The group described Agom’s emergence during the APC House of Representatives primary election held on Saturday as a major milestone for the people of Okpoga and Okpokwu Local Government Area.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Convener of the Movement, Hon. Omaga Omaga, the group commended Governor Alia and the APC leadership for what it described as their commitment to zoning and political balance.

Omaga said, “The victory of Rt. Hon. Anthony Atta Agom is a thing of joy for all well-meaning Okpoga people. We thank Governor Hyacinth Alia and the entire APC leadership whose commitment to zoning and political balance made this historic development possible.”

The movement also applauded all aspirants who participated in the primary election for their peaceful and democratic conduct throughout the process.

“This victory is not for one person alone, but for all supporters and stakeholders who worked for the growth of the party,” the statement added.

The group further called for unity among political stakeholders and supporters across the constituency, urging them to avoid bitterness and division ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“At this crucial moment, we appeal to our people to remain calm and embrace dialogue and mutual understanding. This is not the time for actions capable of weakening the collective aspiration of Okpoga people,” Omaga stated.

The movement also appealed to political actors across Enone Federal Constituency to sustain the zoning arrangement, stressing that the people of Okpoga have over the years supported the aspirations of other communities within the constituency.

“For decades, Okpoga people have supported the aspirations of others across Enone, and we believe this is a defining moment for such goodwill to be reciprocated in the interest of fairness, unity and peaceful coexistence,” the statement said.