The re-run primary election of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Benue State has produced Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia as its governorship candidate after polling the highest number of votes in the remaining 12 local government areas in addition to what he scored in the 11 Local government areas earlier admitted by the court.
The election followed a directive by the Appeal Court, Makurdi Division mandating the APC to conduct fresh elections in 137 wards of 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in a judgement in favour of one of the governorship aspirants, Prof Terhemba Shija.
Declaring Rev Fr Alia as winner of the election, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Basheer Lado said Alia polled 410,682 votes to beat his closest rival, Barr Sam Ode, who polled 22,319
Senator Lado explained that the total number of registered voters of the party for the election in the 23 LGAs of the state was 868,010.
In a breakdown of votes by each of the aspirants in the 23 LGAs of the state, the Committee chairman announced that Dr Mathias Ibuan polled 14,593 votes; Architect Bernard Yisa, 581 votes; Senator Barnabas Gemade, 5,125 votes; Terlumun Ikya, 2,851 votes with Barr Sam Ode polling 22,319 votes respectively.
According to senator Basheer Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia got 410,682 votes; Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), 3,815 votes; Godwin Tyoachimin, 1,139.votes; Steven Lawani, 21,172 votes; Prof Terhemba Shija, 2,217 votes; Mlanga, 219 votes; Terwase Orbunde, 1,391 votes, while Herman Hembe polled 638 votes.
He said”With this document before me, I hereby declare Rev Fr Hyacinth Iormem Alia who scored a total number of 410,682 votes; having scored the highest number of votes as the winner of this election.”
Shortly after the declaration of the results the State chapter of the party held a Special Congress in line with the custom of the party to affirm the candidacy of Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia as duly elected to fly the party’s flag in next month’s election state.
Meanwhile, apart from releasing the results for the 23 LGAs of the state, the Committee also released the results for re-run in the 11 LGAs.
During the re-run election, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia polled, 219,002 votes; Architect Bernard Yisa, 136 votes; Sam Ode, 255 votes; Mathia Ibuan, 4,797 votes; Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, 606 votes and Senator Barnabas Gemade, 450 votes.
Others are Herman Hembe, 688 votes; Terwase Orbunde, 2 votes; Steven Lawani, 120 votes; Mlanga, 766 votes; Terhemba Shija, 219 votes and Godwin Tyoachimin, 454 votes respectively.