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Two weeks after the African Democratic Congress, ADC, governorship primary election in Benue State, the party’s declared winner, Herman Hembe, has yet to be issued his Certificate of Return as the national leadership continues its review of the exercise.

The situation comes amid petitions filed by some aspirants calling for a fresh primary election, alleging that the process that produced the announced winner was defective and did not represent the true wishes of party members.

A source within the party disclosed to our reporter on Saturday that the ADC national leadership is presently reassessing the outcome of the primary election, a development responsible for the delay in presenting Hembe with his certificate of return.

The petitioners, Joseph Waya and Peter Adejoh, in separate petitions submitted to the party leadership, questioned the conduct of the exercise and demanded a review of the outcome. They also appealed to the party to establish a new governorship electoral committee comprising persons who are neither natives nor residents of Benue State to ensure neutrality and credibility in any future process.

In a statement obtained by ZINGTIE on Saturday, Waya criticised a memo reportedly released by ‘The Herman Hembe Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation Benue 2027’ announcing the inauguration of a committee to choose a running mate for the Benue ADC governorship ticket.

According to him, the party is yet to conclude its assessment of the governorship primary election.

Despite the ongoing review, Hembe has constituted a nine-member committee to select his running mate ahead of the 2027 elections.

Responding to the development, Waya said, “We wish to state that ADC Benue has no governorship candidate yet as the primaries are currently under review by the National Secretariat of the African Democratic Congress in line with directives from the National Chairman and resolutions of the just-concluded NEC.”

He maintained that setting up a committee for the selection of a running mate before the review process is concluded was hasty.

“This is therefore a clear case of putting the cart before the horse, to be shopping for a deputy when the party has not yet declared its governorship candidate.

“It is procedurally improper for any campaign organisation to constitute committees on running mate selection when the substantive ticket remains under review and no candidate has emerged,” he stated.

Waya further observed that although the memo mentioned consultations with the party’s national and state leadership, it failed to provide any evidence of formal approval or directive from the National Secretariat.

Also speaking, Peter Adejoh, the only governorship aspirant from Benue South Senatorial District, praised the party leadership for reviewing the primary election and expressed confidence that the exercise would reinforce internal democracy within the ADC.

Adejoh urged the party’s national leadership to ensure that all grievances arising from the exercise are comprehensively addressed in the interest of fairness, transparency and party unity.

“I commend the national leadership of our party for reviewing the governorship primary election. This demonstrates the party’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and internal democracy.

“I believe all concerns raised by aspirants should be carefully considered in the interest of justice, party unity, and the overall success of the ADC in Benue State.

“It is surprising that a committee for the selection of a running mate is being constituted when the party has not concluded its review and no Certificate of Return has been issued. Such actions are capable of creating confusion among party members and the public,” Adejoh said.

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