Catholic Priest, Alia wins APC governorship 2023 ticket for second time

A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for the second time.

This followed a rerun which was held in 12 Local Government Areas and three council wards in Benue State’s Buruku Local Government Area. as a result of nullification of earlier primaries conducted by the APC.

Earlier Rev. Father Alia was declared winner beating other aspirants which include Senator Barnabas Gemade, the former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa and others.

APC Committee recommendation after studying a petition by some aggrieved aspirants nullified the primaries to save party from protracted crisis and tonsavethe party from not fielding a candidate in the 2023 general election.

The results according to the returning officer, Mr Joel Omajali, at the APC State Secretariat in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, shows: “a total of 366,546 voters were registered, 292,930 were accredited, a total of 270,353 votes were validly cast, and Fr Alia won with 195,314 votes.”

Prof. Terhemba Shija received 1,859 points, Terlumun Ikya received 2,746, Bernard Yisa 338 points, Mathias Byuan 1,4152 points, Sam Ode 21698 points, Godwin Ityoachimin 860 points, Barnabas Gemade 3,831, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa 3,517 points, Herman Iorwase Hembe 720 points, Terwase Orbunde 1,393, Steven Lawani 23,925 points.

The rerun was held in the local government areas of Ogbadibo, Ushongo, Konshisha, Oju, Apa, Kwande, Agatu, Ohimini, Ado, Obi, Okpokwu, and Apa.