May 26, (THEWILL) – The Benue state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, led 851 delegates to the Aper Aku township stadium, Makurdi, to elect the party’s governorship flag bearer ahead of next year’s general election. Over thirty aspirants initially signified interest for the seat.
However, the party leadership decided to carryout a zoning process that knocked of some out, some withdrew from the race, while others kicked against the decision of the party.
At the end of the last count, aspirants from Kwande and Ushongo from Benue North East were zoned, which led to the decamping of the then Chief of Staff to the governor, Pastor Terwase Orbunde, from the PDP to the APC. The 14 local government councils in Tiv land had picked the Speaker of the Benue state House of assembly and member representing Kyan State constituency, Titus Uba, as the party’s consensus candidate.
However, some of the aspirants from the area, including a member representing Tiv State constituency in the Benue state House of assembly, Mr Terkaa Ucha, former Commissioner for Education, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, Engr Ben Akaaka and Dr Paul Angya, among others, distanced themselves from the ‘consensus’ arrangement and joined in the race.
The leader of the party and governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom and party stalwarts, persuaded them to withdraw from the race, all to no avail. However, at the stadium, before the commencement of voting, Dr Paul Ubwa, Chile Igbawua, Susan Waya, Dominics Akaahan and Dr Paul Orhii, announced their withdrawal and support to Mr Titus Uba, to emerge as the flag bearer.
Announcing the result at Aper Aku township stadium, the Returning Officer of Guber Primaries election, Mr Bode Ojomo, said, Mr Titus Uba polled 731 delegates, followed by Engr Benson Abounu with 81 votes; Prof Dennis Ityavyar had 2 votes, while Dr Paul Angya got 1, Terkaa Ucha 1 and Engr Ben Akaaka got no vote.
Reacting to the exercise, governor Samuel Ortom described it as transparent, credible, expressing the hope that PDP will return to victory in next year’s general election.
On his part, the winer of the election, Mr Titus Uba commended delegates and PDP leadership for the confidence reposed in him as flag bearer. He noted that the burden on him was enormous; promising not to disappoint the people of the state, if he is voted into office next year.
Uba said, other smaller parties like the APC among others have posed no threat to the PDP in the state and called on those who lost out in the contest to close ranks by working for the victory of the PDP at the polls.
In his reaction, the deputy governor, Engr Benson Abounu, who lost in his bid, said he bowed to the decision of delegates and leadership of the party, saying a person of his caliber will be governor one day.
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