By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi
Benue State government has lashed out at opposition elements in the state, accusing them of being behind a video discrediting the recent local government council election in the state.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, CPS to the Governor, Tersoo Kula and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday, said the tactic of the opposition elements is to cast a shadow over the election which he described as transparent and violence-free.
His words: “Prior to the elections, credible sources informed us of underhand plans by some opposition elements to discredit the electoral process. This video appears to be one of their tactics to cast a shadow over what was a transparent and violence-free election.”
“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.
“We found no credible evidence linking this fabricated content to the governor or his administration”, he stated.
According to the CPS, 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 no sensitive materials distributed in the full glare of the media and political party agents.
“This achievement should be celebrated rather than tarnished”, he added.
He, therefore, urged journalists and media outlets, particularly Arise TV, which he said 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 CPS cautioned.
He said the state government remained committed to transparency and accountability in governance and will not be deterred by attempts to mislead the public.