The Benue State Government has placed a ban on all forms of political meetings and gatherings be it inter-party, intra-party or groups till further notice.
In a leaked letter addressed to the State Commissioner of Police by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Paul Biam said the ban become imperative “following intelligence on the volatility of the security atmosphere in parts of the state”.
In the widely circulated letter, the Government cited the volatile security atmosphere as the reason for the ban. “This has become necessary following intelligence on the volatility of the security atmosphere in the state.
“It is certainly not news to you how the security atmosphere in the state is charged following the unprecedented influx of armed herdsmen in the state.
“You are by this notification, invited to enforce this directive”.The statement concluded
Reports indicate that the ban came as the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state led by its chairman, Austin Agada has scheduled a meeting to interface with the Executive Director of Finance and Accounts of the National Housing Authority, NHA Mathias Byuan over his appointment by President Bola Tinubu which is bid to hold Friday, March 1.
Meanwhile, the Police have again sealed the Benue State Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Makurdi, the state capital
The Force also stopped the Austin Agada-led executives from holding their scheduled political meeting slated for Friday, March 1 and Sunday, March 3, 2024.
The meeting was called by the executives of the APC with selected stakeholders and the newly appointed Executive Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Matthias Byuan, in Makurdi.
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However, the State Police Command in a letter signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Samuel Gimba on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, addressed to Agada, advised that the meetings be called off.
The Command referred to an earlier letter it received from Governor Hyacinth Alia embargoing all forms of political meetings and gatherings in the state.
The Governor in the letter dated February 27, 2024, through his Chief of Staff, Paul Biam banned all forms of political meetings and gathering in the state owing to the volatile security situation in the state.
Acting on the request by Governor Alia, the Police in a correspondence to Agada, advised him to suspend the said meetings.
The letter read , “I refer to your letter dated February 7, 2024 notifying my office of your intention to hold the State Executive Committee, SEC, meeting of the APC as well as stakeholders meeting of the party on March 1 and 3, 2024 respectively.
“I wish to however request you to suspend the said meetings and all other forms of political meetings till further notice in view of the directive of the Executive Governor of Benue State suspending the holding of all forms of political meetings and gatherings in the State due to the volatility of the security atmosphere in the state.”
Acting on the strength of the correspondences, the Police Friday morning as early as 6am sealed off the State Secretariat of the APC on J.S Tarka Road in Makurdi with stern looking Police personnel taking charge of the roads leading to the Secretariat.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
