Benue State Governor Hyacinth Arya has said the viral video of mass thumbprinting of ballot papers in last Saturday’s local government elections in the state was carried out by individuals desperate to score cheap political points.
According to a report in Naija News, Mr. Arya was said in a statement on Thursday by Chief Press Secretary Tersu Kura, where members of the Benue All Progressives Congress (APC) were allegedly seen stamping their thumbprints on several ballot papers. He described the video as a staged drama.
The governor claimed that the state’s local government polls held on October 5, 2024 had the best results, and called the video one of the tactics to overshadow a transparent and non-violent election. emphasized.
The statement read: “This video is being used to ridicule the Benue State Government and the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC, and is nothing but an unfortunate attempt by desperate individuals to score easy political points. .
“After thorough review, it is clear that this video is clearly a staged drama orchestrated by those seeking to undermine the good governance of Governor Hyacinth Arya.
“We found no credible evidence linking this fabricated content to the governor or his administration.
“Before the elections, we received information from reliable sources that there were secret plans by some opposition forces to discredit the electoral process. This appears to be one of their tactics to cast a shadow over the election.
“It is important to note that this election marked an important milestone as it was the first time in many years that voters in Benue had access to ballot papers for local government elections.
“For the first time in Benue State since the eventual restoration of democracy in Nigeria, BSIEC has recruited and meticulously trained all temporary staff for voting. They were deployed and distributed classified and unclassified material in full view of the media and political party officials. This achievement should be celebrated, not tarnished.
“We urge journalists and media outlets, especially Arise TV, which aired the misleading video and accompanying commentary, to uphold professional ethics.As a beacon of society, check the facts before publishing. It is important not to be swayed by mere pretense.
“We remain committed to transparency and accountability in governance and will not be deterred by attempts to mislead the public.”
