Nigeria Content Online

Following the
perceived irregularities that characterised the conduct of the National
Assembly elections in Benue State, the immediate past governor of the
state, George Akume, has called on Senate President David Mark and the
former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Barnabas Gemade to return the people’s mandate to the rightful owners.

Speaking in his
Makurdi residence yesterday, Mr Akume revealed that Messrs Mark and
Gemade did not win senatorial elections in their respective senatorial
districts given the declining popularity of their party, the PDP. He
alleged that the incumbent member of the House of Representatives for
Makurdi/Guma federal constituency, Emmanuel Jime and Iorwase Hembe of
Vandeikya/Konshisha federal constituency stole the mandate of the
people and they should return same.

According to Mr
Akume, the PDP in the state disregarded the warning of security
operatives and were responsible for the violence in the state during
the national assembly election.

“PDP introduced unprecedented violence but the ACN supporters voted for their candidates overwhelmingly,” he observed.

He lamented that a
32-year-old Aondongu Abuku was killed at about 11am on the election day
at NKST Anakaa polling unit in Logo Local Government, claiming
knowledge of those alleged to have participated in the killing.

Mr. Akume argued
that electoral materials were not sent to other polling units in
Oturkpo, adding that in Ado and Obi local governments, no election was
conducted. He, therefore, urged the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC to nullify the election in those places.

The former governor
called on the INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega to remove the State Resident
Electoral Commissioner, Nasir Ayilara, stressing that the ACN in the
state has vowed to fight and reclaim its mandate until the last person
was dropped. “We cannot be threatened or intimidated,” he declared.