The Benue state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) has taken
a swipe at the state Deputy Governor, Chief Benson Abounu for calling on
the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to declare the Benue
South rerun election won by it inconclusive .
The electoral umpire has since declared PDP candidate, Senator David Mark
in the election winner. He polled a total vote of 84192 against the All
Progressive Party ( APC) candidate Daniel Onjeh who scored 71621 votes
The PDP woman leader in Benue state Mrs. Abeje Egwa in a reaction
today told Abounu to accept the defeat of his party in the rerun election
in good faith.
Mrs. Egwa pointedly who accused the Deputy governor of involvement in
electoral misdemeanors alleging that “Abounu made several attempts to
cause mayhem during the election”.
She recalled that after the Deputy governor failed in his attempts at
disrupting the election he is now seeking refuge in wild and unfounded
allegations.
According to Mrs. Egwa ” The Deputy governor used security at his
disposal to intimidate voters not only at his Otukpo -Icho polling unit
but at various other units while moving around under the guise of
monitoring the election.
“Although Abounu and his cohorts were resisted , he however led security
aides and thugs to other polling units attempting to disrupt the election
in areas considered the strong hold of the PDP.
” It is shameful for a current Deputy Governor for out of fear of defeat
attempted to relocate a polling unit to his personal house . When the
attempt failed , he resorted to using the state apparatus to harass and
intimidate voters “.
She alleged that after the defeat suffered by the Deputy Governor, instead
of imbibing the spirit of sportsmanship, Mr Abounu resorted to crude and
barbaric intimidation of PDP supporters who defeated him last Saturday by
using security apparatus at his disposal to harass, intimidate and clamp
them into unwarranted detention.
” As we speak, PDP members could no longer sleep in Okete ward as Abounu
is using the police in Otukpo to clamp down on them. They are being
arrested and detained arbitrarily . Their onLy offence was that they
defeated the Deputy Governor in his polling unit, ward and Local
Government” she disclosed.
Mrs. Egwa therefore called on President Muhammad Buhari and Governor
Samuel Ortom to call Abounu to order so as to stop him from causing
further violence in Benue South.