Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has announced the postponement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for the Guma 1 State Assembly Bye-election. The scheduled primaries, originally set for Saturday, January 6, 2024, were suspended to a yet-to-be-announced date to avert potential crises in Guma local government area.

Governor Alia revealed during a press conference in Makurdi that the decision to suspend the primaries was prompted by the infiltration of the process by prominent politicians from other local governments and the interference of officials assigned to conduct the elections. The governor expressed concerns over the security threats posed by these developments in Guma local government and emphasized the need to maintain the peace that the state has enjoyed for the past seven months.

Addressing the situation, Governor Alia stated, “I wouldn’t want anything that would resemble or even trigger non-peace and insecurity at any corner, not only in Guma local government but the entire state.” He highlighted the efforts made by security agencies to restore and sustain peace in the state and stressed the importance of avoiding any actions that could jeopardize these efforts.

The governor acknowledged that party faithfuls were prevented from participating in the primaries due to the interference of politicians and officials, leading to emotional reactions from the youth. Governor Alia called on party members to assist in maintaining peace and urged cooperation with security agencies to ensure a peaceful environment during the electoral process.

Governor Alia reiterated his commitment to the overall development of Benue State and emphasized that his priority as governor is the peace and security of the state. He assured the public that efforts were being made to address the situation in Guma local government and prevent any potential bloodshed, emphasizing the sensitivity of political issues in the region.