APC PRIMARIES: HOODLUMS ATTACK GOVERNOR ALIA’S ADVISER, APC CHIEFTAIN, OTHERS *Electoral Officials Escape Attempted Abduction * AKIGHIR DID NOT LEAD HOODLUMS; REPORT IS FALSE, MISLEADING AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED - Aide

APC PRIMARIES: HOODLUMS ATTACK GOVERNOR ALIA’S ADVISER, APC CHIEFTAIN, OTHERS*  

* Electoral Officials Escape Attempted Abduction 

* AKIGHIR DID NOT LEAD HOODLUMS; REPORT IS FALSE, MISLEADING AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED - Aide 

By Correspondent

Facts have emerged from a viral video and social media reports on the tension in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. While attempting to escape with electoral materials after an inconclusive primary for the newly restored State Constituency, youths intercepted the convoy. Governor Alia’s Special Adviser on Politics, Mobilisation and Special Duties and Hon. Smart Apurugh Girgi were assaulted by angry youths.

A victim who spoke with our correspondent alleged that the Chairman of the North Central Development Commission, NCDC, Barr. Dr. Cosmas Akighir, on Wednesday, 24th June 2026, led and supervised armed hoodlums in an attack on the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia of Benue State on Politics, Mobilisation and Special Duties, an APC chieftain in Benue State, Hon. Smart Apurugh Girgi, and others. They were accompanying security personnel escorting electoral officers with APC primary election results to Makurdi.

The primary election for the Restoration Constituency, Gboko 1, Ipav Constituency, was held with two aspirants. Hon. Terfa Aha of Governor Alia’s camp defeated Hon. Aondona Usende of SGF, Sen. George Akume’s camp, by a wide margin as announced by the electoral officers.

Hon. Terfa Aha was declared winner by the electoral committee with 5,901 votes cast, while his opponent, Hon. Aondona Usende, scored 1,242 votes.

Speaking from his hospital bed in a private hospital in Gboko, one of the victims, Hon. Smart Girgi, narrated: “Amid shock and humiliation over defeat after allegedly collecting large sums of money from the SGF camp, but failing to mobilise supporters, the NCDC Chairman, Barr. Akighir of the SGF camp, led armed hoodlums with the intent to abduct electoral officials, returning officers and collation officers in order to overturn the result. The targeted victims escaped narrowly with the help of security men.”

An eyewitness and victim of the attack added: “The visibly angry NCDC Chairman, Barr Akighir ordered his hoodlums to block the federal highway at Tyeku stream, near the residences of Prince Yandev Amaa Bai and Hon. Becky Orpin in Gboko. 

They trapped the Special Adviser, myself, Smart Girgi, and other perceived supporters of Governor Alia who joined the Security Agencies who were escorting electoral officers to Makurdi, the Benue State capital. 

Barr. Akighir ordered his men to force us out of our vehicles ransacked the vehicles and beat us mercilessly, even threatening to kill us. The video is available. 

It took the intervention of God through patrol officers from Operation Zenda and the Area Command, Gboko, to save us.”

The victim further revealed that while receiving treatment in hospital, they got reports that the hoodlums visited their homes in search of them, forcing family members to flee for safety.

According to our correspondent, the election proceeded smoothly and peacefully in Mbakpegh Council Ward and other Wards, until the collation stage, when unscrupulous elements allegedly led by Akighir attempted to invade the VIP Lodge and seize materials from electoral officials. 

The matter has since been reported to the police.

The Ipav community has also reaffirmed its unity. Elders Wuav Atamber, Tyover Akaajime, Clement Orjime, and Ahemba Kyausu, in the presence of all kindreds, stated that the consensus was reached without rancour or division. It reflected due process and the collective decision of the Ipav community. 

The elders said they anonymously and in good faith put forward the candidature that now enjoys overwhelming support.

Reacting to the incident, the Executive Chairman of Gboko Local Government Council, Hon. Barr. Torseer Yina, strongly condemned the attack and harassment of victims by suspected political thugs. Hon. Yina described the incident as unfortunate, unacceptable, and a direct threat to democratic process. He stressed that political disagreements must not degenerate into violence, intimidation, or acts that disrupt peace and stability in Gboko LGA and the state.

The Chairman called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure all those responsible are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law. He emphasised that no individual or group should take the law into their own hands or use violence to advance political interests.

Hon. Barr. Torseer Yina further urged party supporters, political actors and stakeholders to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding. He noted that the strength of any democracy lies in respect for due process and the rule of law.

He reaffirmed his commitment to promoting peace, unity and democratic values in Gboko Local Government and called on all APC members to shun violence and embrace dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect.

Meanwhile, the NCDC Chairman through his personal assistant on Media and publicity, Mr. Paul Tema refuted the report, called on the general public to disregard the report.

"REJOINDER: AKIGHIR DID NOT LEAD HOODLUMS; REPORT IS FALSE, MISLEADING AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED

The attention of the Chairman of the Governing Board, North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Barr. Dr. Cosmas Akighir, has been drawn to a publication alleging that he led hoodlums to attack APC primary election officials and political stakeholders during the recently conducted primary election for the restored Gboko I State Constituency.

We categorically describe the allegations as false, malicious, fabricated and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of Barr. Dr. Cosmas Akighir for political advantage.

For the record, Barr. Akighir neither led nor sponsored any group to attack electoral officials or any individual during the exercise.

On June 24, 2026, beginning from about 3:45 p.m., Barr. Akighir received repeated distress calls from APC members across several council wards, reporting that electoral officials and materials had not arrived at their polling centres, leaving thousands of party members stranded without the opportunity to vote.

Concerned by the development, he personally visited affected areas, including Gboko South and Gboko East Council Wards, where he confirmed that party members were still waiting for election materials well into the evening.

At Ameladu, the centre for Mbakpegh Council Ward, Barr. Akighir observed Hon. Terfa Aha, Hon. James Tor, Hon. Smart Girgi and security personnel moving in a convoy with electoral materials toward an undisclosed destination. Out of concern over the integrity of the process, he followed the convoy.

After over an hour of movement, the convoy arrived at Mkovur, the centre for Igyorov Council Ward. Video evidence shows Barr. Akighir addressing security personnel and party officials, insisting that electoral materials be returned to the appropriate polling centres so eligible APC members could exercise their right to vote. He called for a transparent, free and fair electoral process.

While he was making this appeal, the convoy reportedly departed again with the election materials, denying voters in what became the fourth and final council ward the opportunity to participate in the primary.

As Barr. Akighir continued monitoring events across the affected wards, he received information that some members of the convoy had been stopped by aggrieved youths demanding an explanation for the movement of electoral materials. Upon arriving at the scene, he met youths questioning Hon. James Tor and Hon. Smart Girgi. On seen Akighir, James Tor pleaded for his intervention. Rather than instigating violence, Barr. Akighir intervened, appealed for calm and worked to de-escalate the situation.

It is therefore incorrect and misleading to portray him as the mastermind of any attack.

Furthermore, the results later announced have raised serious concerns among many party members. For example, Hon. Aondona Usende was reportedly allocated only 45 votes in Gboko South Council Ward despite video evidence showing thousands of APC members gathered there throughout the day without any election taking place because electoral materials never arrived.

These concerns deserve impartial investigation rather than the circulation of false accusations intended to damage the reputation of political opponents.

We therefore reject in its entirety the publication linking Barr. Dr. Cosmas Akighir to acts of violence. It is a politically motivated narrative, unsupported by credible evidence and designed to mislead the public.

We urge members of the public to disregard the report and call on relevant authorities to objectively investigate the conduct of the primary election and establish the true facts.

Signed:

Tema Paul Orseer

Eyewitness"