May 16, (THEWILL) – Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has assured governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, in the forthcoming party primaries to elect candidates for next year’s general election, of fairness and transparency even as he denied anointing a successor.
Governor Ortom gave the assurances at the enlarged caucus meeting of the PDP held on Sunday, at the New Banquet Hall of the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.
“In compliance with the amended Electoral Law, 2022, all aspirants who obtained nomination forms and have been screened are free to participate in the primaries. I have not anointed any candidate for any of the elective positions in the state.”
The Governor reaffirmed his readiness to support and work with candidates that emerge at the primaries, saying the victory of the party in the 2023 polls was his major preoccupation.
He cautioned against blackmail, stressing that no aspirant should think of using thugs to cause confusion during the party primaries, as anyone caught will be decisively dealt with.
Governor Ortom dispelled insinuations that the party was disunited in the state, pointing out that he enjoys a smooth working relationship with the national chairman of the party and all critical stakeholders.
He directed the party chairman in the state to furnish all aspirants with the comprehensive list of delegates who would participate in the process.
In his remarks, the State Chairman of the PDP, Sir John Ngbede, informed serving political appointees, who have presented themselves as delegates to withdraw from participating, in order not to contravene the electoral law.
Earlier, the chairmen of the Caucus leaders from G-14 Tiv speaking area and the G-9 from the Idoma speaking areas, submitted reports on the ongoing process to arrive at a consensus candidate for the governorship ticket.
Chairman of G-14, Dr Laha Dzever and that of G-9, Sir Moses Ajima, in their separate reports, said they were yet to reach a compromise and have resolved to go into the primaries to nominate a governorship candidate for the party.
It will be recalled that the G-14 and G-9 have nominated the Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Engr Titus Uba, from the Tiv axis and the Deputy governor, Engr Benson Abounu, for the Idoma area and have failed to convince anyone of them to step down for the party to have a sole candidate ahead of it primaries.
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