Benue stakeholders reaffirm support for Ortom’s re-election bid

No fewer than 250 major stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State have reaffirmed their support for Governor Samuel Ortom’s re-election bid next year.They promised to mobilise grassroots support for the governor throughout the state and pledged to stand by him through thick or thin. 

They made the declaration at the weekend in a communiqué after a meeting of leaders of associations, non-governmental organisations, groups and politicians in Makurdi.  Representative of Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo constituency at the House of Representatives, Emmanuel Udende and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Mkar, Professor Nancy Agber, signed for Benue North East while former Makurdi Local Council chairman, Godwin Donko and former Vice Chancellor of the Benue State University, Professor Akase Sorkaa spoke for the North West district. 

Representative of Okpokwu/Ado/Ogbadibo constituency at the House of Representatives, Saleh Hassan, and former Minister of the Niger Delta, Sam Ode, signed for Benue South district. While pledging support for his re-election bid, the delegates reaffirmed their confidence in Governor Ortom’s leadership, particularly the placing of his life and political future at risk for his people. 

They expressed their continued support for his position on ranching and noted that he had been vindicated about the law at various levels. The stakeholders noted that although the security and economic challenges in the state were not his creation, Ortom was tackling them with commitment, transparency and fairness. 

They noted that APC’s National Executive Committee (NWC) directive for elective congresses and that of the North Central Zonal leadership that the former party executives be retained at all levels. Ortom, who was represented by Emmanuel Udende appealed to APC members in the state to remain calm and united.