By: Titus Akor, Makurdi.

The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Barr. Sam Ode has dismissed reports in some national dailies claiming that the recent reconciliation meeting between Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume agreed on automatic tickets for Governor Alia, National Assembly and State Assembly members in 2027.

Ode, who chaired the Communique Drafting Committee for the peace meeting, described the publication as a “sponsored advertorial” by a faceless person, insisting that no such resolution was contained in the committee’s draft.

In a disclaimer issued on Tuesday in Makurdi, the deputy governor said the resolutions published did not emanate from the committee he headed.

“The committee that was set up to draft the communique only did a draft for the Governor and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for their input and approval,” Ode said.

“There was nowhere in the draft copy where an automatic ticket for any category of aspirants was mentioned,” he added.

Ode explained that the authorising signatures for any communique arising from the meeting would be those of Governor Alia and Senator Akume, not members of the drafting committee insisting that the signatures used in the advertorial were merely signatures of attendance at the committee meeting.

“Whoever has mischievously sponsored that publication in circulation is doing gross disservice to the Governor of Benue State, Father Hyacinth Alia, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume the APC family as well as the principles and spirit of the ongoing reconciliation and peace efforts,” the statement read.

The deputy governor further noted that during the meeting, the APC National Vice Chairman, North Central, Alh. Muhammed Muazu Bawa, stated clearly that the party’s decision was to adopt direct primaries to nominate candidates.

He stressed that the communique drafting committee had no powers to issue and sign a communique on behalf of Governor Alia and Senator Akume, who convened the reconciliation meeting and urged members of the public to disregard the said publication.