As a sure way to arrive at a consensus candidate ahead of 2023 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State, said it has narrowed the race for its 2023 Governorship ticket.
The party at a Special Stakeholders meeting, on Thursday night, zoned the ticket in the Tiv speaking area to Vandaikya Local Government Area, having arrived at a Consensus Candidate in the Idoma speaking area in the person of incumbent Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu at a similar meeting last Sunday.
Participants at the meeting included party’s top leaders; Governor Samuel Ortom, PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, Senator Gabriel Suswam and BoT member, Mrs. Margaret Icheen and members of the House of Representatives.
At the meeting, a Special Ad-hoc Committee headed by the party’s State Deputy Chairman, Isaac Mffo, was mandated to firstly deliberate and arrive at a zoning of the Governorship ticket between the Kwande and Jechira intermediate areas, following which Jechira was favoured on grounds of equity, inclusiveness and fairness.
The Isaac Mffo led Ad- hoc Committee was further mandated to deliberate on a zoning of the ticket between Vandeikya and Konshisha local government areas which comprise the Jechira bloc following which Vandeikya got the nod for the same reasons of equity, inclusiveness and fairness earlier adduced in favour of Jechira against Kwande.
A statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bemgba Iortyom, said Thursday, April 7, 2022, has been slated for the adoption of a consensus candidate for the party’s Governorship ticket in the Tiv speaking area.
Governor Ortom expressed satisfaction with the process, stating that PDP in the state has opted for a pruning down of the number of aspirants in the race to avoid unnecessary expenditure on the aspirants while creating synergy within the party as it heads to the general elections next year.
He commended the governorship aspirants for their unity and peaceful interaction and urged them to maintain their bond in the pursuit of the larger objective of retaining the Governorship seat in the state and winning federal power for it in 2023.
PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu lauded the depth of quality among the pool of aspirants on the party’s platform, assuring them that he will use his good office to grant them access to opportunities for participation in party assignments at the national level and as well guarantee for them inclusion in government at the federal level when the party win the 2023 elections in the state and at the national levels.
Also speaking, Senator Gabriel Suswam enjoined the aspirants to embrace the fact that only one among them will eventually emerge victorious, a victory he emphasised must be taken to be for all of them as one indivisible family, cautioning that none of them should consider leaving the party as PDP remains the most viable political platform in Nigeria presently.
READ ALSO: UN Chief Condemns Attacks On Abuja-Kaduna Passenger Train
Chairman of the Forum of Benue PDP 2023 Governorship Aspirants, Barr. Chile Igbawua, on behalf of the aspirants, pledged to accept and abide by the decisions taken by the leadership of the PDP as loyal party men who have placed the collective interest of the party above their individual ambitions.
Meanwhile, former Chief of staff and Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom, Mr. Terwase Orbunde and Terver Akase respectively, have appreciated their supporters in the state saying they accept the decisions of the party.
While Orbunde assured that his political future which is anchored on divine providence remained bright, Akase in a statement signed by his Media Director, Nathaniel Nongu, said the interest of the party is above any personal ambition and pledged to support whoever the party chooses as the candidate for the 2023 election.
