Why APC will dethrone PDP in Benue, by Rijau

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman, North Central, Muazu Rijau, has expressed optimism that the party would capture Benue State during next year’s general elections. He also noted that the party needs unity and support for its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Rijau told APC stakeholders, yesterday, at an interactive meeting, in Makurdi that all they needed was to work hard and reclaim the state from the other party that has been struggling to find peace and resolve disagreements within its fold.

The former Commissioner for Works, Niger State, disclosed that the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC instructed him to go round the zone to encourage and feel the pulse of members towards 2023 general elections.

He assured that the NWC would prevail on members, who instituted court cases against the party, to withdraw them in the interest of peace.

Rijau said: “We are here on a mission to reclaim and retain our mandate in Benue. I want to commend Benue APC for making the right choice in Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia as the governorship candidate.”

He noted that with the calibre of people in the party, there is no way Benue will not come back to APC, stressing that the crisis within the rival party has made things easy for the opposition in the state.

The national vice chairman maintained that the only thing expected from APC stakeholders in the state is a united front, even as he pleaded with aggrieved party members to look at the bigger picture.

Earlier, the state Chairman of the APC, Austin Agada, remarked that the party has already resolved to work hard to reclaim power and develop the state, which is in a battered condition.

The Guardian reports that no fewer than three governorship aspirants of APC in the state are in court challenging the conduct of the nomination process in which Fr. Alia emerged flag bearer.

Among the aggrieved governorship aspirants are former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Chairman, Barnabas Gemade, former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, and Prof. Terhemba Shija.