The leadership of G-9 Benue South Progressives Forum, yesterday, said its members appointed into the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council in the state have turned down the appointment.

In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Akor Ikwuoche, the G-9 Benue South said the decision of the members was to “maintain the sanctity of their ideological conviction and commitment to defending the dignity of the Idoma nation.”

The group, however, said the development does not mean they have withdrawn their support for the APC and its candidates in the forthcoming elections.

The statement reads: “We consider it immoral to accept any appointment under the current state leadership, which has no respect for APC stakeholders in Idoma nation when it comes to running the state affairs.

“The G-9 has, on several occasions, demanded that the Tiv-controlled state leadership of the party allow the Idoma people to decide their political affairs by themselves and not by imposition from the Tiv leaders. But all the outcry meant nothing to the party leadership in the state.

“It will, therefore, amount to greater insult on the Idoma people if Idoma leaders accept responsibility under a leadership that does not accord the Idoma people any iota of dignity or fair share.

“Accordingly, all the underlisted members of G-9 who were recently appointed into the APC Governorship Campaign Council in Benue State have, by this correspondence, rejected their appointments and have withdrawn their membership of the Campaign Council.”