Comrade Daniel Onjeh, the 2023 senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue South, has dismissed claims of parallel executives emerging from the party’s recently concluded ward and local government congresses in Benue State, describing the reports as false and misleading.

In a press statement issued in Abuja, Onjeh urged party members and the general public to disregard what he called unfounded narratives surrounding the conduct of the congresses.

He said the ward congresses were organised by committees duly constituted by the APC National Working Committee in line with the party’s constitution and its four-year congress cycle, adding that the local government congresses were also concluded across the state through a recognised and orderly process.

“In a political party governed by rules, congresses are not declared into existence,” Onjeh said. “They are convened under authority, supervised by recognised committees and formally reported through the National Secretariat. That is how legitimacy is formed.”

He insisted that no parallel congress took place in the state.

“There was no parallel congress in Benue State,” he said. “A congress requires convergence. It requires members gathering at designated venues under authorised supervision. There was no such convergence. There was no gathering. There was no authorised supervision. People cannot sit in private spaces, write names and rush to the media to declare themselves elected.”

Onjeh, a former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, said institutions only function properly when laid-down procedures are respected and recognised structures are followed.

According to him, the APC constitution provides a clear internal mechanism for resolving disputes arising from congresses.

“The party has appeal panels specifically constituted to review complaints arising from congresses. Any member who is dissatisfied has the right to file a petition before the appropriate appeal body,” he said, adding that the courts remain available after internal remedies have been exhausted.

Onjeh, who also served as chairman of the governing board of the Projects Development Institute, stressed that organisational credibility depends on discipline and adherence to due process.

He also appealed to the media to verify claims of parallel executives before publishing such reports.

“Before presenting narratives of parallel executives, media organisations should make basic inquiries. Contact the National Secretariat. Confirm the committees deployed to Benue and ask who supervised the congresses and where the official results were transmitted,” he said.

On the political leadership of the party in the state, Onjeh said Hyacinth Alia, as the sitting governor, remains the recognised leader of the APC in Benue in line with established political practice nationwide.

“Governors across the country are recognised as leaders of their parties in their respective states. Governor Alia cannot be treated differently,” he said.

He congratulated the newly emerged ward and local government executives, urging them to focus on grassroots mobilisation and party unity.

“There is one constitution and one recognised chain of authority,” Onjeh said. “Only outcomes traceable to that chain will stand.”