By Peter Duru

MAKURDI—The crisis that has trailed the zoning arrangement of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has pitched communities and groups in Benue State against each other as they obstinately lay claim to the Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency seat.

The groups drawn from the three local government areas that make up the constituency are sharply divided on the zoning arrangement insisting that the House of Representatives seat has been zoned to their respective areas and their candidates.

Addressing newsmen in Makurdi, a group under the aegis of Sankera Patriotic Forum, SPF, comprising indigenes of Ukum Local Government, insisted that the House of Representatives seat has been zoned to the area, adding that its candidate Comrade Richard Gbande, a renowned labour leader was anointed by the people and paramount rulers of area to represent them as Federal lawmaker in 2011.

President of the group, Mr. Chiata Boniface, insisted that it was in the best interest of peace, social justice and stability of the area generally referred to as Sankera axis, that the position was domiciled in Ukum.

Chaita said: “The Forum believes that the decision was not based only on the principles of fairness in the distribution of public offices but the enviable track record of performance of Comrade Gbande in the positions he has so far held in life.”

However, in a swift reaction, another group from the axis under the aegis of Sankera Professionals, SP, through its President, Mr. Emmanuel Uja, described as baseless and unfounded claims by the SPF that the House of Representatives seat has been zoned to Ukum.

Uja regretted that names of paramount rulers of the area were being dropped by political office seekers and their supporters in order to deceive gullible members of the public and the people of Sankera.

He insisted that the seat in contention has been zoned to Logo Local Government Area in line with the PDP zoning arrangement.