Benue’s Kwande chairmanship poll sees Ternenge employing tactics to outsmart rival Neji in a critical political contest.
An interesting twist has occurred in the competition for the position of Chairperson in Kwande Local Government Area, located within Benue State.
Mr. Neji Vitalis, the incumbent caretaker Chairman, gained attention in the news for allegedly acquiring both expression of interest and nomination forms at a cost of N5 million.
At the end of the form sales for Benue State’s upcoming local government elections, a decision was made. Nevertheless, political experts acquainted with Kwande dynamics have expressed skepticism about Hon. Neji’s candidacy from Shangev-ya due to unfavorable zoning arrangements.
Unnamed sources have revealed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has designated Yaav ward’s Turan as the location for chairmanship. Neji Vitalis’ decision to contest despite knowing about this zoning arrangement has left many confused. There are rumors of a prominent figure influencing his choice, which heightens speculation regarding what is in store for this political race.
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Adding to the mystery is Mr. Moses Ternenge’s participation, hailing from Shangev-ya as well. He allegedly devised a cunning scheme to obstruct the competition.
It is said by sources that Ternenge, who purportedly has control over influential political figures, might be manipulating Neji in order to sow discord and disarray among the other contenders.
On Thursday, September 29th, a group of APC leaders from Kwande reportedly convened at the Green Belt Hotel in Makurdi to devise a scheme for influencing the forthcoming election.
Ternenge’s impact on the race extended beyond encouraging Neji to participate; he also procured application forms for Mr. Jeff Sundah Iortsor, a civil servant from Yaav ward, in an effort to bolster his own political position.
Ternenge’s favored candidate, Mr. Sundah hails from a prominent family in Yaav and is considered more manageable. It has been suggested by some analysts that Neji’s bid for candidacy could be a strategic ploy to divide the votes during the primary election, thus increasing Sundah’s chances of triumphing.
Rumours suggest that Hon. Bem Tseen, a trusted associate of Ternenge, is increasing the complexity of candidate screening by actively weeding out formidable contenders from Turan. This move potentially paves an easier path for Sundah to emerge as the ultimate victor in the selection process.
As the candidate screening process commences, Kwande’s political climate stays on edge. Although some candidates remain quiet, Honorable Imoter Richard Nomkpo from Yaav exudes assurance in his capacity to outsmart competitors and fulfill his commitments when entrusted with a mandate.
In the coming days, it is expected that we will witness how these political tactics unfold in the competition for leadership of Kwande Local Government’s chairmanship.
