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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.
News
Karate Federation President Chukwudi Dimkpa Seeks God’s Protection For Team Nigeria’s Athletes At 2026 Commonwealth Games
The President of Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN), Engineer Chukwudi Elekwachi Dimkpa has added a spiritual angle to Nigeria’s pursuit of medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, as the recently confirmed top shot prayed for God’s protection over the country’s athletes.
Sports247 reports that, while acknowledging that Team Nigeria had solid preparations heading into the Games and the contingent is saturated with immense talents, Dimkpa reasoned that they still need the hand of God and His guidance during their various events at Glasgow 2026.
Dimkpa also commended director-general of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honouurable Bukola Olopade, for his commitment to the welfare of Nigeria’s athletes and praised the officials for working tirelessly to ensure the team got all necessary technical, medical and logistical support.
The KFN president added that, though karate is not featuring at the Glasgow Games, the federation stands firmly behind Team Nigeria and fully supports the country’s representatives, who he believes will return home with many medals that would inspire the next generation of athletes.
He asserted, “I have no doubt that our athletes possess the talent, discipline, determination and resilient Nigerian spirit of ‘never say never’ to win gold medals and secure several podium finishes for our country. My prayers are with every athlete and official for God’s protection throughout the Games.”
An Enugu Air aircraft on Thursday suffered a runway excursion after landing at Benin Airport, with all 63 passengers and five crew members safely evacuated and no injuries or fatalities recorded.
The airline confirmed the incident in a public notice, saying the aircraft had been secured while the relevant aviation authorities had been notified in line with established procedures.
“Enugu Air wishes to inform the public that one of our aircraft operating into Benin experienced a runway incursion after landing today,” the airline said.
It added, however, that all those on board were safe.
“We confirm that all passengers and crew have safely disembarked and there were no injuries or casualties.”
Although the airline described the occurrence as a runway incursion in its statement, the incident involved the aircraft leaving the runway after landing, which is referred to in aviation as a runway excursion.
A video posted on Thursday evening by the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on his official X account showed the Embraer 170 aircraft off the runway in a grassy area, with emergency responders at the scene while passengers disembarked. Mr Sowore, who shared the footage, said he hoped no one was injured and urged the authorities to treat aviation safety and regulatory compliance with “the utmost seriousness.”
My heart goes out to everyone involved in the incident involving the @EnuguAirlines aircraft at Benin Airport. I hope no one was injured and that all passengers and crew are safe.
The authorities must treat aviation safety and regulatory compliance with the utmost seriousness.… pic.twitter.com/smjoKGlCnB— Omoyele Sowore (@sowore) July 23, 2026
The airline said an assessment of the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the occurrence was underway.
It also warned that the incident could lead to temporary adjustments to some of its scheduled flights.
“As a result, there may be temporary adjustments to some flight schedules. Passengers affected by any changes will be contacted directly and provided with the necessary assistance,” the airline said.
Reassuring passengers, the carrier said safety remains its highest priority.
“The safety of our passengers, crew, and operations remains our highest priority. We appreciate your understanding and will continue to provide updates through our official communication channels,” it added.
The incident is expected to be investigated by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), while the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will also carry out its regulatory oversight to determine the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.
A runway excursion occurs when an aircraft unintentionally leaves the runway surface during take-off or landing. It is among the most common categories of aviation occurrences worldwide and may result from several factors, including adverse weather, bad runway conditions, technical faults or operational issues.
The latest occurrence comes as Nigeria’s aviation authorities continue efforts to strengthen safety oversight and improve operational standards across the country’s airports.
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