There was a protest in Makurdi, the Benue State capital yesterday by youths rejecting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) results of the governorship election.People’s Democratic Party’s candidate, Governor Gabriel Suswam leads, according to the returns from 18 of the 23 local government areas.
But the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) rejected the result.
Senator George Akume of the ACN polled 261,726 to beat Hon. Terngu Tsegba of the PDP who garnered 143,354 votes. He retains his seat.
Senatorial returning officer, Dr. Adehola Sotimehim, announced the result.
In the House of Assembly elections, Speaker Terseer Tsumba and Majority Leader, David Mwar lost their seats.
In Plateau State, former Governor, Chief Joshua Dariye won the election in the Plateau Central Senatorial District. Former House of Representatives member, Victor Lar won the seat for Plateau South Senatorial District.
In a statement, Benue State chairman of the ACN Abba Yaro alleged that results were cooked and doctored by the PDP in Logo, Ukum, Katsina Ala, Konshisha, Guma, Gwer-Gwer West local government areas, and the entire of Zone C.
The party said there were glaring cases where elections did not hold, but results returned in favour of the PDP. It also alleged that fake corps members and soldiers were used to intimidate ACN supporters.
The party said it would challenge the result of the election at the tribunal.
Speaker Tsumba of the PDP who recorded 18,692 votes, lost his seat to ACN candidate Aduku Gbileve who polled 44,487 votes in Buruku constituency.
Majority Leader Mwar of the PDP was also defeated by ACN candidate, Mato in Kyan constituency.
The protesting youths, numbering over 200 took to major streets of Makurdi, over the outcome of the election in which Governor Suswan was coasting to victory.
Police dispersed and arrested some of them
Dariye, popularly known as head boy of politics in the zone, defeated the younger brother to former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, Mr. Dauda Gowon.
Lar polled 132, 768 votes to defeat incumbent Senator John Shagaya of the Labour Party (LP) who got 72, 534 votes and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Minister (FCT), Jeremiah Useni, who polled 97,846 votes.
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