MAKURDI – Chief Chike Udenze, the Chairman, Ward Congress Electoral Panel in charge of Benue, said the panel had begun to collect results of the congresses from local government results in the state.
The distribution of electoral materials for the conduct of the ward congresses in the state started around 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Udenze told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Makurdi that the panel had already collected results from eight local governments.
He said that majority of the local governments were yet to round off the exercise due to its late commencement on Saturday..
“The exercise is still ongoing in majority of the local governments in the state due to the late commencement of the excercise yesterday.
“We have received petitions from some of our party members regarding the conduct of the elections in some of the local governments.
“We are going to review all complaints, listen to both parties and take appropriate action at the end of the day.
“Though we have some challenges which is normal with congresses of this nature, no election has been concealed so far.”
He commended members of the PDP in the state for the peaceful conduct of the congress so far, adding that it was for the overall interest of the party.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Benue chapter, had pledged to conduct free and fair ward congresses across the 274 wards in the state.
The state Chairman of the party, Dr Emmanuel Agbo, while addressing the local governments Returning Officers in Makurdi, blamed the delay on the late arrival of the electoral panel and materials in the state.
Agbo explained that for the purpose of neutrality, the State Working Committee had posted local government returning officers and ward Electoral Officers out of there respective senatorial districts.
“The names of the Ward Congress Electoral Panel were out yesterday and the members of the panel cut across different geo-political zones.
“They all rushed to Abuja to collect materials and started coming down to Makurdi in the night.
“But for the purpose of neutrality, we have decided to post all electoral officers outside their respective senatorial district for the interest of the state and the party.
“We are believing that by so doing, we would conduct a free and fair congresses.”
He said that all congresses must be held at ward headquarters, adding that where no consensus had been reached, election should be conducted to elect the delegates.
“All congresses must hold at the headquarters of the 274 wards in the state. Where no consensus have been reached, election must be conducted to elect the delegate.
“All party members wishing to be delegates must be given equal opportunity to exercise their rights by conducting election for the public to decide who their delegates are.”
The chairman further said that the party was relying on the positive outcome of the ward congresses to win the forthcoming general elections in the state.
He also warned politicians and electoral officers against any attempt to short change the process, adding that necessary actions would be taken in such situations.
There were speculations on Saturday that the materials for the congresses meant for the state were nowhere to be found. (NAN)