No fewer than 81 aspirants are participating in the All Progressives Congress House of Representatives primaries taking place on Saturday in Benue State, as political activities intensify ahead of the party’s selection process.
A list released in the early hours of Saturday showed strong competition across the state’s federal constituencies, with several prominent political figures and relatives of top politicians among the contenders.
In the Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency, which is the home constituency of Hyacinth Alia, 14 aspirants are contesting for the APC ticket.
Similarly, seven aspirants are in the race for the Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency seat, the area where the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, hails from.
Among the notable contenders in the constituency is his wife, Regina Akume, whose participation has drawn attention within the party.
Also contesting is Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President David Mark. She is seeking the APC ticket for the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, where she is contesting alongside three other aspirants.
The APC secretariat in Makurdi was busy on Saturday morning as party members and aspirants gathered ahead of the primaries.
The primaries come at a time when the Benue chapter of the APC is making efforts to address internal divisions, particularly the rift between camps aligned with Governor Alia and Akume. The party has witnessed months of factional disputes, making the outcome of the primaries a key test of unity within the state chapter.
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