Latest Benue News today, Monday September 19, 2022

1. Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have reportedly invaded a seminar venue on “witch persecution” scheduled to be held on Saturday in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The Executive Director of Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfWA), Dr Leo Igwe, confirmed the police invasion in a media release on Saturday, describing the action of the police as unacceptable more so when the Commissioner of Police in the state was duly invited for the programme.

2. The zonal chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) North central, Mu’azu Bawa has said that the choice of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia a popular gubernatorial candidate with very rich credentials and prestige, Benue has no reason to lose election come 2023.

Bawa, who made this known in Makurdi during the north central party leadership interface said with the overwhelming support and acceptance of the APC governorship candidate he saw during his two days visit to Benue, the party will take over the state come 2023.

3. The suit challenging the victory of Chief Philip Agbese in the primary election of the All Progressive Congress, APC, for the Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency in the forthcoming 2023 general elections, by an aspirant of the party may have suffered a setback over the joining of a non-juristic party as a defendant in the suit.
At the hearing yesterday, Counsel to the APC, Fidelis Mnyim drew the attention of the court to the joining of a non-juristic party, Benue APC, as the second defendant in the suit as listed on the originating summons.

4. Ahead of the 2023 governorship election in Benue State, the candidate of Labour Party Hon. Herman Iorwase Hembe, has challenged his All Progressives Congress, APC counterpart, Hyacinth Iormem Alia to name any of his achievements since his 32 years of priesthood.

Hembe, a three term member of House of Representatives for Jerchira Federal Constituency, made the assertion in a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Kulekule Igbawua Thaddeus.

5. Governor Samuel Ortom has explained that his forthright criticism of the Federal Government was to make the government work better for the people and not to vilify the office of the President as being wrongly perceived in some quarters.

He said “most of the policies of the Federal Government which I kick against are clearly anti-people, especially those that effect our people. And my criticisms are meant to make the government live up to its responsibilities to the people and not intended to vilify the President as being perceived by some persons.”

6. Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Media and Publicity and former aspirant for the Benue governorship election, Terver Akase, has said the problem of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate, Reverend Father Alia was self-inflicted as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Governor Samuel Ortom were not behind the crisis.

Akase said the issue was that of imposition by some set of godfathers who have insisted on Hyacinth Alia as against the general wish of other members.