Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has confirmed his Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu, as his running mate in next year’s general elections.
Governor Ortom made the announcement on Monday during the extraordinary meeting of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) held in Government House, Makurdi.
Ortom said the announcement became necessary to put to rest the speculation that he might pick another running mate other than Engr. Abounu ahead of next year’s general elections.
Governor Ortom also called on politicians especially those who contested for elective positions to allow the will of God to prevail in their lives rather than insisting that they must have their own way at the detriment of the generality of the people of the state.
The governor announced that there would be elaborate reconciliation programmes for PDP members, especially those that contested and lost at the primaries, saying it was better to work together.
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According to him, the reconciliation team with three persons from each of the senatorial zones in the state would be constituted as part of the party’s integration programme, urging party faithful to live above board.
Governor Ortom thanked all PDP faithful for the warm reception accorded him on his return to the party and requested that the idea of new and old members of PDP should be discarded.
Earlier, Senator David Mark described Governor Ortom as a dependable and reliable ally judging from the fact that the governor accompanied him to the podium making him the only aspirant to have enjoyed such privilege to address delegates at the last PDP convention in Port Harcourt.
State Chairman of PDP, Chief John Ngbede, announced that winners at the last primaries of the party whose names were purportedly replaced had been retained.
He advised against anything that could lead to a repeat of mistakes of the past.
Also speaking, a guber aspirant, Prof. David Ker, promised to work with Governor Ortom who is the party’s flag bearer, to enable the party clinch power at the general elections come 2019.
