BY Dyepkazah Shibayan
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue state has expressed concern over the presence of livestock guards and armed militia ahead of the elections scheduled to take place on Saturday.
The party’s concern was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting on Wednesday.
George Akume, former Benue governor, presided over the meeting which discussed the postponement of the general election.
APC alleged that there are efforts by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use violence during the polls.
“It expressed disappointment over the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the communiqué issued by by Eugene Aliegba, campaign secretary, read.
“It however, noted the reasons advanced for the postponement and hoped that the reoccurring pattern of elections postponement will stop.
“The meeting observed with dismay the organised/calculated efforts by the PDP in Benue state to use violence to achieve electoral success. This is shown by the open presence and deployment of arms by armed militia and the Benue state livestock guards all over the state.
“The situation has led to violent attack on the member of the house of representatives for Makurdi-Guma Federal constituency, Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, and the assassination of the APC chairman for Ohimini LGA, Hon. Boniface Okleho in the early hours of Saturday 16th February, 2019.
“The meeting deplored the fact that despite the deployment of security for conduct of the elections, the presence of armed militia and armed livestock guards still remained visible all over the state.”
The party asked the security agencies to check the activities of these livestock guards and armed militia in the state.
It also asked INEC to publish a list of its duly accredited observers to enable security agencies identify fake groups/persons posing as observers.
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