Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has sworn in the newly elected local government chairmen, charging them to uphold the highest standards of governance without fear or favor.
The ceremony took place on Monday, following the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) sweep of all 23 chairmanship and 276 councillorship seats in the state’s local government elections.
Alia emphasized the importance of integrity, foresight, and dedication to accountability, transparency, fairness, and honesty. He urged the new chairmen to prioritize democratic deliverables over personal gains, stressing that leadership is about service and sacrifice.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the election results, alleging irregularities and demanding cancellation. Tim Nyor, Benue PDP Publicity Secretary, described the polls as a “charade” and accused the APC-led administration and the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) of lacking integrity.
Nyor called for a fresh exercise, threatening to explore legal options if the results stand. He condemned the alleged ballot stuffing and mass thumb-printing of ballots, stating that Governor Alia and BSIEC have failed the Benue people and violated their sworn oath to uphold electoral integrity.
Alia maintained that the election was free, fair, and reflected the will of the Benue people. He encouraged the new chairmen to collaborate with the state government to implement policies benefiting rural communities, emphasizing their shared vision for the state and country’s development.
