The Appeal Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has overturned the disqualification of 11 aspirants who were barred from participating in the party’s House of Assembly primaries. The decision follows a review of 50 appeals lodged after the party’s initial screening exercise.
In a statement released on Thursday, APC State Organising Secretary James Ornguga confirmed that the appeals panel granted permission for the 11 successful candidates to proceed to the primaries. The remaining 39 petitioners had their appeals rejected, with the committee upholding their disqualification on grounds of non‑compliance with party guidelines.
The panel’s deliberations involved a thorough examination of written petitions, supporting documents and oral testimony before reaching its conclusions. The appeal body was chaired by Abubakar Lawal, with Ade Adetimehin serving as secretary alongside Ahmed Murtala.
The controversy stems from an earlier screening in Makurdi that excluded roughly 50 of the 148 aspirants seeking APC tickets for the Benue State House of Assembly. Party officials said the disqualifications were based on breaches of internal rules and constitutional requirements. Several incumbent legislators, however, cleared the screening and remain in the race.
Among those initially removed were Wisdom Dominic of Otukpo/Ohimini, Ndiisaa Terhemen of Logo, Ologbo Edwin of Oju II, John Ogbu of Oju I, Patrick Ogwuche of Okpokwu, Ezekiel Elaigwu of Agatu and Dr Ukan Emmanuel of Gwer East. Additional names included Stephen Abanga (Ukum), Aondover Utsaha (Guma I), Shawo Aondoana (Kwande East), Agana Raphael (Oju II), Odeje Okoh (Ohimini), Agbeje Martins (Oju II) and Uko Solomon (Gaav).
The appeal outcomes have reignited intra‑party tensions. Daniel Ihomun, a close ally of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, claimed that all aspirants aligned with his faction were cleared in the original screening, suggesting a partisan dimension to the process.
The reinstated aspirants are now expected to join the primary contests scheduled by the APC’s state secretariat. Their participation could reshape the slate of candidates ahead of the upcoming legislative elections, potentially affecting the balance of power within the Benue State House of Assembly.
The appeal committee’s rulings underscore the APC’s effort to address grievances while maintaining procedural integrity. Observers note that the final list of candidates will likely influence voter choice and party performance in a state where the APC competes closely with rival parties. The primaries will serve as a litmus test for the party’s internal cohesion and its capacity to present a united front in the forthcoming elections.
