Politics
2027: Declare me APC Benue guber candidate, Kuraun tells NWC…Accuses Alia of diversion of materials
By Philip NyamAbuja
A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue state, Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun has called for the cancellation of the just concluded governorship primaries due to alleged irregularities and undemocratic practices.
Kuraun, who made the call in Abuja on Thursday at a media briefing, also accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of diversion of election materials demanding that he be declared as candidate of the party in the alternative.
The aspirant alleged that “What transpired was a grave subversion of internal democracy and a deliberate manipulation of a process that ought to have reflected the genuine will of party members across the 276 Council Wards and 23 local government areas of Benue State.
“In view of the overwhelming irregularities, absence of transparency, denial of due process, and the failure of the exercise to meet acceptable democratic standards, I respectfully call on the National Working Committee of the APC to cancel the purported governorship primary election conducted in Benue State on 21st May 2026 and conduct a fresh, transparent, and independently supervised primary election; declare me, Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun, the valid winner of the primary election based on the undisputed fact that I was the only aspirant who substantially complied with the party’s stipulated preparatory requirements for the conduct of the exercise, including the duly acknowledged submission and deployment of agents across the 276 council wards and 23 local government areas of Benue State, as well as the overwhelming turnout and visible participation of my supporters across the state despite the failure of election materials to reach the designated ward centres”.
Speaking further, the aspirant alleged that “The APC Governorship Primary Election conducted in Benue State on Thursday, 21st May 2026 was neither credible, transparent, nor reflective of democratic standards expected within a ruling political party.
“I was the only governorship aspirant who demonstrably prepared for the exercise in accordance with the requirements and guidelines of our great party, the APC.
“Prior to the primary election, I duly submitted the comprehensive list of my Ward and Local Government Agents to the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee at the APC State Secretariat in Makurdi. The submission was formally acknowledged by the Committee.
“To the best of available evidence, no other aspirant submitted such comprehensive agents’ lists covering the entire 276 Council Wards and 23 Local Government Areas.
“Most importantly, I was the only aspirant with agents physically present and verifiably deployed across the field during the exercise. This fact is supported by extensive pictorial and video evidence taken across the wards and local governments in Benue State.
“Our agents and supporters were visibly present, mobilized, and prepared for the democratic exercise. They wore identification tags, coordinated party faithful, and waited for the distribution of election materials in anticipation of a credible process.
“Unfortunately, what followed was deeply disturbing. My agents and supporters across the 23 Local Government Areas patiently waited at their respective ward centres for the arrival of election materials, which reportedly departed Makurdi at about 1:00 p.m. for onward distribution to the designated wards.
“However, in many instances, these materials never arrived at the approved ward centres for the conduct of the primary election.
“Instead, reports and evidence later showed that the materials were seen being taken away or found in the possession of certain government appointees and individuals outside the designated electoral process.
“This unfortunate development ultimately created room for the diversion of election materials to unknown locations and opened the door for the falsification and fabrication of results without actual voting taking place in many areas.
“I challenge anyone claiming victory in that exercise to publicly provide authentic video or pictorial evidence showing actual accreditation, voting, counting, and collation processes across the 276 Council Wards of Benue State.
“Several disturbing irregularities have since emerged from the purported results announced, including:
“Allocation of votes to aspirants whose supporters and agents were not present in several wards; instances where I overwhelmingly won but was falsely recorded as scoring zero votes.
“Inclusion of names of persons who reportedly did not participate in the screening process or were not duly cleared to contest; announcement of fabricated figures from locations where election materials never arrived and voting never occurred.
“These actions represent a direct assault on democratic credibility and internal party democracy. Following the declaration of the disputed results, I immediately activated the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the APC in line with the timetable and guidelines of the party.
“However, when it became time to formally file my appeal before the Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee, the Committee members became unavailable and could not be found anywhere despite repeated efforts by myself, my representatives, and my legal team to reach them.
“It is my firm belief that this deliberate unavailability was calculated to frustrate my constitutional and democratic right to seek redress within the party framework.
“Faced with this obstruction, I had no option but to forward my appeal through DHL courier service to the National Chairman of the APC, with copies duly sent to the National Legal Adviser.
“The complaint was officially acknowledged at the office of the National Chairman on 25th May 2026. Regrettably, up till this moment, I have neither received any formal response nor been invited for any meeting, hearing, or discussion concerning the complaint filed”.
Politics
‘Exclusion of Tiv on Tinubu’s Campaign Council’ Deliberate, Says Hembe, Benue ADC Gov Candidate
By Vincent Tyosuugh
African Democratic Congress (ADC) 2027 governorship candidate in Benue State, Rt. Hon. Herman Hembe, has kicked against the exclusion of the Tiv ethnic group from the presidential campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This reaction trails the All Progressives Congress, Saturday release of the complete membership list of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council without any member of the Tiv race, the highest in the Middle and the fourth most populated ethnic group in Nigeria.
Only three people from Benue State made the list. The three are former President of the Senate, Ameh Ebute; former Deputy Governor of the state, Steven Lawani; and Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi.
According to a statement issued by the Hembe/Abba Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, signed by Sir Peter Vande, which was made available to newsmen on Sunday night, said the development was a deliberate political decision.
The statement read in part:
“The recent release of the presidential campaign council list by the Tinubu APC has exposed a deliberate and calculated exclusion of the Tiv people from national reckoning.
“This is not an oversight. This is a message, and every Tiv person, every Benue son and daughter, must read it correctly. There will be no room for the Tiv if, God forbid, Tinubu is declared winner.”
The organisation said the Tiv people had contributed significantly to Nigeria’s unity and development and should not be treated as an afterthought in national political calculations.
“We are the fourth-largest tribe in Nigeria. We have shed blood for the unity of this country. We are, and have always been, a beautiful tribe that deserves to be courted diligently, not a bystander invited only when convenient.”
The statement, however, said the Tiv people should not be likened to someone seeking attention where none existed, stressing that the Tiv as one of Nigeria’s major ethnic groups deserved to be deliberately courted in the nation’s political process.
It further argued that the exclusion of Tiv APC members from the presidential campaign council should concern every serious-minded Tiv person and questioned whether the Tiv people could expect adequate representation in government if President Bola Tinubu wins the 2027 election.
The organisation said its governorship candidate, Herman Hembe, remained committed to the welfare, security and political interests of the people of Benue, adding that fair representation should be a major consideration in determining political loyalty and electoral support.
Hembe used the opportunity to urge the people of Benue to back the African Democratic Congress’ presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who he described as a politician familiar with the concerns of the Tiv people.
The organisation said an Atiku/Amaechi administration would restore the Tiv and Benue people to what it described as their rightful position in Nigeria’s political affairs, while also claiming that Atiku had better plans for improving the lives of Nigerians.
Similarly, the All Progressives Congress in the state has decried the exclusion of the Tiv ethnic group from the party’s presidential campaign council.
Daniel Ihomun, the state publicity secretary of the Agada-led faction loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who spoke to our correspondent on Monday, argued that the majority of members who made the list, especially those from the North-Central, were Muslims.
He said, “We, the party in the state, are not happy with the list released in the President Bola Tinubu Campaign Council because Tiv people are excluded from the list.
“There are so many Muslims on the list, especially in North-Central. The former Director-General of the Tinubu campaign in 2023 was not on the list. We Christians are not happy; we have been shortchanged.
“With the Tiv population in Nigeria, you cannot neglect us like that. We contributed to Tinubu’s victory in 2023; it’s like we have been neglected.
“With what has happened, the President is making the job (campaign) difficult for us.”
By Bem Kurugh
The outcome of the Osun State governorship election, which returned Governor Ademola Adeleke to office, once again demonstrates a simple political truth: elections are ultimately decided by the people, not by internal party power struggles. While political parties often devote enormous energy to fighting over structures, conducting questionable primaries, imposing preferred candidates, and sidelining key stakeholders, these exercises mean very little if the electorate is unconvinced. The people remain the final arbiters of democratic contests, and no amount of political maneuvering can substitute for their collective will.
The Osun election is a reminder that political structures do not cast votes—citizens do. A politician who enjoys the confidence, goodwill, and support of the people stands a far better chance of electoral success than one who merely controls party machinery. History has shown repeatedly that candidates imposed through kangaroo primaries or backed solely by influential political interests often struggle at the polls because they lack genuine acceptance among the electorate. Democracy thrives when the people’s choice prevails, not when a few individuals attempt to determine outcomes behind closed doors.
More importantly, elections are won when leaders earn the trust of the people through visible performance and responsible governance. Citizens are more likely to reward a government that has delivered on its promises, addressed their concerns, improved public services, and remained accessible than one that spends its time pursuing political supremacy. Performance, humility, and responsiveness speak louder than endless battles for party control. When people feel the impact of good governance in their daily lives, they become the strongest campaigners for any administration.
Political actors should therefore learn the right lesson from Osun. Rather than gallivanting around in search of structures or engaging in unnecessary conflicts with stakeholders, they should invest their energy in building public confidence through credible leadership and meaningful service. Respect for internal democracy, consultation with stakeholders, and commitment to the welfare of the people will always yield better political dividends than imposition, division, and manipulation.
The victory in Osun reinforces an enduring democratic principle: power belongs to the people. Political structures may provide organization, but they cannot replace popular support. Leaders who seek electoral success should focus less on controlling party machinery and more on winning the hearts of the electorate through integrity, performance, and inclusive leadership. In the end, it is the people not political structures who determine who governs.
—Decry non- scholarship award by govt
–Condemn neglect of student hostels
By Vincent Tyosuugh
Forum of University Student Leaders in Benue State on Tuesday, expressed support for the SDP candidate in the 2027 elections, Prof. Sebastine Hon, SAN, while decrying the rot in student hostels and neglect by the Governor Alia administration.
The students made the declaration during a solidarity visit to the Director General, Sebastine Tar. Hon Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ngutor Anyam, in Makurdi.
The student leaders who took turns to address the DG, lamented the poor state of student welfare under the current government.
To the Coordinator of “Hon Va Youth Movement 2027,” Christian Aondongu, students have been the worst hit by the policies of the present state government. In his words:
“As student leaders, we can testify that students have been neglected.
“Government has no incentives for students.
“Our hostels are bad and the toilets are not fit even for our worst enemies.”
He added that the group is planning a solidarity march in honour of Prof. Hon ahead of the 2027 elections.
Also speaking, the Chairman, National Association of University Students (NAUS), Benue State chapter, Comrade Terfa Kator, lamented the absence of government scholarship, saying:
“We are enarmored of Prof. Sebastine Hon because he has been awarding scholarships.”
To the Coordinator, National Association of Zone C Students, BSU, Comrade Ode Francis, the Alia administration is “anti-students”, adding that:
“Even the Ortom administration tagged the worst awarded scholarships.
“We searched for a candidate to support.
“We are uplifting the candidature of Prof. Hon,” he stated.
Responding, a member of the STH Campaign Organisation, Zaki Godwin Akpen, told the students to remain committed.
“You are leaders right now. If you want a better tomorrow, your ideas for real development will make a difference,” he charged the students.
In his remarks, Dr. Anyam expressed delight at the students’ decision and promised the campaign organisation’s full support.
“You have already identified Prof. Sebastine Hon as a credible leader.
“If you assist him to get into government, you are part of the history of making Benue State great.”
Recalling his university days, the DG said he enjoyed a meal for 50 kobo as an undergraduate and expressed pain over the failure of public service and the decline in the university system in Nigeria. He regretted the unpatriotic attitude of those in positions of authority, saying that:
“A Chinese firm once sought to build hostels for the Benue State University students but the plan was thwarted because management of the university at the time was more interested in milking the company.”
Dr. Anyam outlined key plans of the STH administration to include prioritising scholarships, industrialization, sports development and export of agricultural produce and talents.
The students ended the meeting with chants of solidarity for the SDP candidate.
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