Suspended Catholic priest of Gboko Diocese in Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The suspended Catholic priest polled 526,807 votes to emerge as the party’s candidate at the gubernatorial primaries held in Makurdi, the Benu State capital on Saturday.
The Benue State chapter of the APC opted for direct primaries to pick its governorship candidate.
The chairman of the election committee, Dr Peter Ojie, said 13 aspirants participated at the election.
Ojie said Dr Mathias Ibyuan came a distance second with 113,816 votes, while Dr Sam Ode scored 79,369 to berth at the third position.
He added that Chief Stephen Lawani polled 46,882 votes, while former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief
Mike Aondoakaa, garnered 24,596 with Pastor Terwase Orbunde scoring 12,446 votes.
Prof. Terhemba Shija scored 1,048 votes; Sen. Barnabas Gemade scored 2,365 votes, Godwin Tyoachimin got 1,228 votes, while Barrister Hemen Hembe polled 2473 votes.
Architect Benard Yisa got 714 votes; Mr Terlumun Ikya garnered 3,680 votes while Mr Anyom Mlamga scored no vote.
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Rev. Fr. Alia won in 13 Local Government Areas which included Kwande, Buruku, Gwer-East, Gwer-West and Tarka.
He also won majority votes in Vandeikya, Makurdi, Ukum, Guma, Ushongo, Logo, Katsina-Ala, and Gboko Local Government Areas.
Chief Steve Lawani won in five Local Government Areas – Ado, Ogbadibo, Okpokwu, Agatu and Oju.
Dr Sam Ode won in Otukpo, Apa, Obi and Ohimini Local Government Areas while Dr Mathias Ibyuan won at Konshisha Local Government Area.
Alia will now face the incumbent Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Titus Uba, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 general election.
Should Rev. Fr. Alia wins the forthcoming governorship election, Benue State would produce a Catholic priest as the governor of the state.
Fr. Moses Adasu had earlier been elected as Governor of Benue State.
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