Mr. George Akume, representing Benue North-West senatorial district, has said that he was prevailed upon by his supporters to head to the Benue Elections Petitions Tribunal to challenge the election in which his opponent, Emmanuel Orker Jev, was declared winner.
Akume a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who also commenced the commissioning of some of his constituency projects, alleged sabotage of his projects.
Akume, who contested against Jev of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been representing Buruku Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, among others.
Akume, who is challenging the emergence of Jev, alleging that the election was characterised by irregularities, said his supporters, among them elders and youths in the zone, prevailed on him to take the matter before the tribunal, insisting that “it was our mandate that was stolen.”
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He further alleged that the said election was characterised by ballot box snatching, vote buying, intimidation and use of machetes on APC supporters in the senatorial district.
Akume spoke while commissioning a skills acquisition and training centre for women and youth at Ikpayongo, Gwer East Local Government Area (LGA) of the state as part of his constituency project.
While he appreciated the people of the area for voting for President Muhammadu Buhari, he stated that the APC was in the lead “until fake votes stated emanating from Guma, home LGA of Governor Samuel Ortom and Gabriel Suswam, immediate-past governor of the state.
He said: “However, I am glad and deeply appreciative for the roles played by various groups and individuals in the just concluded elections which have recorded another milestone in our democratic evolution.”
