June 27, (THEWILL) – The Chief of Staff to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Terwase Orbunde, has said he is still in the race for the governorship position in the state.
Orbunde spoke against the backdrop of an event held in Gboko in which Governor Ortom presented flags to some governorship aspirants in the state.
In a statement made available to THEWILL in Makurdi, the Chief of Staff, whose name was clearly omitted from the list of governorship aspirants, said it became necessary to clarify his position on the forthcoming governorship election in Benue, given recent developments in the state.
He said the omission of his name had given his political associates and supporters within and outside the state great cause for concern.
“They have sought clarification on why my name was not among those listed by Governor Ortom when he unveiled the 2023 governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Gboko recently.
“Those present at the occasion can recall that the governor explained that some aspirants were unavoidably absent. On that day, my Principal assigned me to represent him at the grand finale of the 2021 Bible Week Celebration of the Bible Society of Nigeria at the Methodist Church of Nigeria, South Bank Cathedral, in Makurdi.
“Subsequent news reports from the event which stated that I indeed represented him at the celebration, from the beginning to the very end, confirm this,” he said in the statement.
Orbunde also explained that the important nature of the assignment required that he be excused from attending the Gboko event.
“I wish to assure those concerned that my 2023 governorship aspiration remains very much alive and it will be fully unfolded at the appropriate time, in accordance with the directives of my principal.”
