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Plateau APC Addresses Concerns Over State Assembly Primary Election Announcements
The Chairman and Returning Officer of the All Progressives Congress Governorship Primary Election Committee, Fidelis Bemse, has clarified issues surrounding the announcement of Plateau State House of Assembly primary election results.
Speaking shortly after the governorship primary election in Jos, Bemse explained that the APC constitutional guidelines provide that House of Assembly primary election results must be announced at the constituency level and not at the state level.
“The conduct of the State House of Assembly primary elections and the announcement of results are done at the constituency level and not here at the state level,” he stated.
According to him, the elections were conducted at designated council wards serving as voting points before the results were collated and officially announced within the affected constituencies.
He noted that bringing the various constituency results to the state level for announcement would amount to a violation of party procedures and existing legal provisions.
“I will be doing great injustice to the APC family in Plateau State if I bring the results of the various state constituencies and announce them here,” Bemse said.
The committee chairman further referenced Supreme Court decisions which, according to him, had established that announcing such results outside the approved constituencies could render the process illegal.
“The Supreme Court has held that such announcement and such election is illegal. I will not encourage anything that will make the process questionable,” he added.
Bemse maintained that the primary elections conducted across Plateau State were credible, free and fair, stressing that members of the committee monitored the exercise across different locations.
He congratulated all candidates who emerged victorious during the primaries and urged them to see their victories as belonging to the entire APC family rather than personal achievements.
The APC official also appealed to aspirants who lost during the primaries to remain committed to the party and support the eventual candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“For those who could not make it this time around, I encourage them to embrace their brothers and sisters who won the tickets and work together as one APC family for victory in 2027,” he said.
Bemse concluded by appreciating party members across Plateau State for their peaceful participation during the primaries, expressing confidence that the APC would emerge stronger and more united ahead of the next general elections.
Hon. Gary Kim Wayas has officially declared his intention to contest for the House of Representatives seat to represent Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wayas made the declaration through a statement shared on his Facebook account after what he described as deep reflection and extensive consultations with stakeholders, family members, friends, and party supporters.
According to him, his decision to join the race was inspired by the need to provide purposeful representation for the people of the constituency at a critical moment in its history.
He stated that leadership must remain rooted in principle, accountability, responsibility, and selfless service to the people, stressing that the constituency deserves committed and visionary representation.
The aspirant also expressed concern over the lingering insecurity affecting communities within Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas, noting that the situation has caused pain, losses, and hardship for many families.
Wayas said the prolonged security challenges facing the area require courageous leadership and deliberate action aimed at restoring peace and improving the lives of residents.
“Our communities have suffered prolonged insecurity for far too long, placing us on the wrong side of history,” he stated.
“The pain, losses, and challenges faced by our people demand courageous leadership and deliberate action. My commitment to the collective peace, security, and progress of our constituency remains unwavering and deeply personal,” he added.
He further pledged to work tirelessly towards building a safer, more united, and prosperous constituency if given the opportunity to serve in the National Assembly.
“With humility, dedication, and a clear sense of purpose, I offer myself for this responsibility,” Wayas said.
His declaration has added momentum to the growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections in Plateau State, especially within the Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency where political consultations and alignments are gradually intensifying.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the risk level of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to “very high” nationally as suspected cases approach 750, with the disease already spreading across borders into Uganda.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus announced the updated assessment on Friday during a Member State information session on the Ebola outbreak and a separate hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius.
According to the WHO, DRC has recorded 82 confirmed Ebola cases so far.
However, the agency said the outbreak is likely far larger, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths already reported.
“In Uganda, two cases have been confirmed in people who travelled from DRC, with one death,” Mr Ghebreyesus said.
Mr Ghebreyesus noted that the organisation previously assessed the outbreak risk as high nationally and regionally, and low globally, but has now revised it to “very high” at the national level, “high” regionally and “low” globally.
No approved vaccines
WHO said the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, unlike previous outbreaks driven by the Zaire strain.
The agency explained that there are currently no approved vaccines or therapeutics for the Bundibugyo virus, making containment more difficult.
WHO also noted that commonly used Ebola diagnostic tests designed for the Zaire strain do not detect the Bundibugyo strain effectively, contributing to delays in identifying the outbreak.
“There have only been two previous outbreaks of Bundibugyo, in Uganda in 2007 and DRC in 2012,” Mr Ghebreyesus said.
Conflict worsening outbreak
The organisation warned that insecurity in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu is further complicating response efforts.
According to the WHO, intensified fighting in recent months has displaced more than 100,000 people, while about four million people in the affected areas require urgent humanitarian assistance.
The agency also said approximately 10 million people are facing acute hunger.
Mr Ghebreyesus disclosed that a hospital in Ituri was attacked on Thursday, with tents and medical supplies set on fire.
“Building trust in the affected communities is critical to a successful response,” he said.
WHO said it has deployed 22 international staff to support response operations and released $3.9 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies.
Hantavirus deaths
Meanwhile, the WHO said the hantavirus outbreak linked to passengers and crew aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has now recorded 12 cases and three deaths.
The latest confirmed case involved a crew member who disembarked in Tenerife and was later repatriated to the Netherlands, where the individual remains in isolation.
WHO noted that no additional deaths have been reported since 2 May, when the outbreak was first reported.
The agency said more than 600 contacts across 30 countries are still being monitored, while efforts continue to trace a small number of high-risk contacts.
Countries supporting the response include Argentina, Cabo Verde, Chile, South Africa, Spain and the United Kingdom.
No Ebola in Nigeria
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said the country has recorded no confirmed Ebola case linked to the ongoing outbreak in Central and East Africa.
The agency said the country remains on heightened alert and has strengthened surveillance at points of entry, including airports, seaports and land borders, to prevent importation of the virus.
The health body also warned against misinformation circulating on social media suggesting that Ebola cases had been detected in Nigeria, describing such claims as false and capable of causing unnecessary panic.
READ ALSO: WHO honours six global health champions at World Health Assembly
Following the outbreak declaration, authorities said surveillance systems at points of entry had been strengthened, while emergency response mechanisms were being reviewed to improve readiness.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also announced additional health screening measures and enhanced Ebola surveillance across international airports.
The measures include heightened passenger monitoring, screening protocols, and coordination with health authorities to detect and respond swiftly to suspected cases.
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