October 10, (THEWILL) – The Benue State government’s attention has been drawn to the recent trending video in connection with the local government polls, which were held on Saturday, October 6, targeted at discrediting the Alia administration and the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC).
“This video, which has been used to ridicule the Government of Benue State and the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, is nothing more than an unfortunate attempt by desperate individuals to score cheap political points.
“Upon thorough review, it is clear that the video is an obvious stage-managed drama, orchestrated by those who seek to undermine the good governance of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.”
On Thursday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, noted that the Government found no credible evidence linking this fabricated content to the governor or his administration.
According to the statement, prior to the elections, credible sources informed of underhand plans by some opposition elements to discredit the electoral process, saying the video appears to be one of their tactics to cast a shadow over what was a transparent and violence-free election.
The Chief Press Secretary pointed out that it is important to note the election marked a significant 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 final resurgence of democracy in Nigeria, BSIEC recruited and meticulously trained all ad-hoc staff for the polls. There was also a massive deployment of ad-hoc staff and sensitive and nonsensitive materials distributed in the full glare of the media and political party agents”, it stated.
Sir Kula explained that this achievement should be celebrated rather than tarnished, urging journalists and media outlets, particularly Arise TV, which aired the misleading video and accompanying commentary to uphold the ethics of their profession.
“As the light of society, it is crucial to cross-check facts and avoid being swayed by mere spectacle before going public.”
The statement added that the Alia administration remained committed to transparency and accountability in governance and would not be deterred by attempts to mislead the public.
