Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom and his wife, Mrs Eunice Ortom have cast their votes at LGEA Primary School polling unit, Ako in Gbajimba.
LGEA Primary School polling unit, Ako is in Nzorov registration area, Gbajimba, (the Governor’s home town) in Guma Local Government Area.
Ortom arrived the polling unit at about 9:27a.m where voters had already turned out enmase to exercise their civic rights.
Speaking to journalists after casting his vote, Governor Ortom adjudged the process as “so far, free and fair” and called on his people to be peaceful and law abiding as they cast their votes.
He however expressed concern at the technical hitches in some polling units in his home town saying that the card readers in two polling units in Nzorov council ward were not working.
He explained that the school premises where he voted had about 11 polling units because the Guma people and officials of the Independent National electoral Commission, INEC had agreed that areas where there were challenges should vote in one place.
He also expressed worry about the arrest of the PDP central agent, Dr Cletus Tyokyaa, a lecturer with the University of Agriculture Makurdi, by security agencies on the flimsy excuse that he was training thugs.
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“They say he was training thugs and by 5am today, they went to his house, they did not see any thug but they arrested him. This will not be allowed.”
Otom said the federal government was using the arrests to divert attention and manipulate the elections “but we are watching them and God is also involved in this. They should know there is God and only God can crown you to be a leader. You cannot force your will in the people.
“All we want is a peaceful, free and fair election that will be transparent in a manner that will be acceptable to all of us,” he said.
The governor advised the federal government to stop overheating the polity with all the unwarranted arrests but allow room for the free and fair process they promised Nigerians.
