A Collation Officer for the May 18, 2026, All Progressives Congress (APC) Benue South Senatorial District primary election, Dr. Peter Sani Ochijele, has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command. He requests an investigation into an alleged discrepancy between the result announced at the primary and another result presented in court proceedings.
According to Ochijele, six aspirants participated in the APC senatorial primary, with results from nine local government areas collated at the senatorial headquarters at Lux Haven Hotel, Otukpo. The results were announced in the presence of party members, security personnel, agents of aspirants and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ochijele stated that the National Assembly Primary Election Collation Officer, Alhaji Sabiu Saidu Mahuta, announced Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo as the winner with 58,760 votes. Other aspirants scored as follows: Hon. Joseph Ojobo, 6,782 votes; Hon. Gabriel Oloche Agidani, 5,246; Hon. Dan Onje, 4,570; Hon. Nelson Godwin Onyilokwu Alapa, 4,312; and Hon. Patrick Idoko Ojechema, 2,732 votes.
However, Ochijele became aware of a suit filed by Alapa at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1092/2026, challenging the primary election outcome. A different result was presented, indicating Alapa emerged as the winner with 24,788 votes. Ochijele questioned the circumstances under which a document bearing his signature appeared in connection with the disputed result.
Ochijele told the police that he did not sign the disputed document and requested that the authenticity of the signature and the document be examined. His lawyers stated that the result presented in court did not originate from the election and that Ochijele never signed the purported result.
The petitioner requested that the Commissioner of Police order an investigation into the alleged alteration or manipulation of the election result. He also asked the police to obtain and examine the original result announced at the primary alongside the disputed document presented in court.
Ochijele sought appropriate legal action against any person found to have committed an offence in connection with the disputed documents. The police are expected to investigate and determine whether any criminal offence was committed.
Key points
- The Collation Officer, Dr. Peter Sani Ochijele, petitions the police over alleged result manipulation in the APC primary election.
- A different result was presented in court, indicating Alapa won with 24,788 votes, contrary to the result announced at the primary.
- Ochijele requests investigation, prosecution, and legal action against those responsible for the alleged manipulation.
