The battle between the incumbent governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, candidate of the PDP and the candidate of the APC, Barr. Emmanuel Jime, can be said to be over for now following the declaration of the governor as the winner of the 2019 governorship election by INEC, HEMBADOON ORSAR writes.
Following the palpable fear that enveloped Benue state in the wake of threats by political parties regarding the governorship election, additional Commissioners of Police were deployed to the state alongside the military and other security agencies in order to forestall possible breach of security in the state.
In addition to this, two more Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of Kwara, Niger, alongside the National Commissioner in charge of Benue, Enugu and Anambra states were deployed to the state to conduct a hight-free and transparent elections in Benue.
Addressing newsmen in Makurdi during their arrival, the INEC National Commissioner supervising Benue, Enugu and Anambra states, Barr. Festus Okoye, emphasized that the commission is committed to conducting a free, fair and credible elections in Benue so that the state can have a conclusive and conclusion elections.
The commissioner also informed that, the commission has taken the supplementary elections serious, hence the deployment of a National commissioner and two residents commissioner’s of Kwara and Niger states to complement the efforts of the sitting residents electoral commissioner in Benue, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda.
Barr. Okoye explained that the people of Benue state would not afford to have a supplementary elections on a supplementary elections, adding that, the citizens are entitled to know who their governor and representatives would be in a few hours from now.
The national commissioner called on the security agencies to conduct themselves in ways that will increase public confidence in the electoral process adding that their own role in the electoral security is clearly enshrined the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
“We all know that the whole world is watching, and we cannot afford to fail and disappoint our country, so at this critical moment we call on the security agency to rise up to the challenge of securing the environment for free, fair and peaeful elections across the state”
“Violence is anti ethic in the culture of Democratic elections and for this reason, we lay emphasis on peaceful elections Benue citizen and voters as a matter of right are entitled to a peaceful elections and we are here to ensure that the people of Benue state have a pleasant voting experience and opportunity to select their governor and other leaders that will represent them”
The APC during their campaigns had boasted to use the federal might to unseat the incumbent governor Samuel Ortom.
But governor Ortom in his reaction had vehemently resisted the use of federal might insisting that he will use the state might which is the will of the people.
After the March 9th 2019 declaration of the Governorship polls as inconclusive by Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, both Ortom and Jime, took a swipe on each other.
The defeated APC, candidate Emmanuel Jime accused the the governor elect, Samuel Ortom of massively rigging the election which was eventually declared inconclusive by the electoral umpire.
He particularly pointed accusing fingers at the trio of the former Governor of Benue state, Gabriel Suswam, Senator elect for Benue South, Abba Moro and Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom of perpetrating what he described as “unprecedented electoral heist ever seen in the history of the state”.
But in a swift reaction, Governor Samuel Ortom stated that his co-contender, Jime has resorted to making unfounded accusation of rigging against the PDP because he knows he has lost the Benue governorship election.
Jime’s allegations which were contained in a press statement signed by the Deputy Director of his Campaign Organization, Kula Tersoo also accused former governor Gabriel Suswam and former Interior Minister, Abba Moro of manipulating the results in Favour of the PDP.
While Suswam was alleged to have, prior to the polls, activated his link with a section of the militia from his area recruited by the wanted militia leader, Terwase Akwaza aka Gana for the electoral fraud, Moro on his part is accused of manipulating elections in his Okungaga and 21 other polling units of Ojiego ward.
“These militia helped him to intimidate and sacked voters from polling centres to pave way for massive multiple thumb printing and general rigging in the five wards of Gaambe Tiev section of his Logo Local Government”
“ The Same Suswam, we gathered on good authority connived with the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue state and got only his blood relations and kinsmen of Shitile appointed as returning officers in the Benue Northeast senatorial district.
“This also explained why with glaring manipulation of votes, gubernatorial and House of Assembly results from the Northeast part of the state and particularly, Sankera axis were not cancelled.
“All petitions written against these elections by our collation agents were ignored. The returning officers would always make sure they detach all petitions from form EC40(G) before submitting at the INEC office in Makurdi”, the statement said.
Barr.Jime went ahead to accuse Governor Ortom of hijacking electoral materials meant for the three council wards of Nongov; namely, Nzorov, Saghev and Kaambe in Guma Local Government where he manufactured over 28,000 votes for his party and allocated a laughable less than 200 votes for APC.
Governor Ortom who reacted to the allegations through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase asked Jime to tender proof of his rigging claims against the PDP adding that with over 81,000 result margin facing him, the governorship candidate of the APC already knows he is at his wits end.
“APC governorship candidate in Benue State, Emmanuel Jime knows he has lost the Benue governorship election and has resorted to raising unfounded allegations of rigging against PDP. With 81,554 result margin facing him, he knows he is at his wits end”
“Every Benue person is aware that APC tried to manipulate the March 9 polls in the state but failed because the people stood firmly behind the Governor”
“He should be concerned about the public alarm raised over APC’s plot to thumb print ballot papers during the March 23 election. Jime should tell us what he knows about the plot by APC to use militia parading in army uniform to intimidate voters during the supplementary election.
Ortom who also accused Jime and Sen. George Akume of boasting about ‘federal might’ which they hope can help them thwart the will of Benue people called on him to explain the case of his personal driver who was arrested with money meant for vote buying.
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“Jime should answer questions over the case of his personal driver who was arrested with freshly minted notes running into millions of naira for vote the day of the March 9th elections in North Bank”
The governor also said the inconclusive declaration of election by INEC can not in any way divert his victory, emphasizing that his victory delayed is not victory denied..
He said the PDP was going to give the Commission the benefit of doubt regarding her commitment towards conducting credible elections in the state.
Ortom said the PDP in Benue was ready for the elections anytime it is conducted boasting that the PDP in the state was good to go.
He stated that the leader of the APC in the state Sen. Goarge Akume had vowed to create confusion so that there will be no elections stressing that any attempt to subvert the wishe of the people will be heavily rejected.
According to him, his victory was only being delayed because he would surely triumph at the end of the day.
“We are ready for this elections and if anybody wants to use security forces to force our people into what we do not want, then, they should be ready to kill all of us in Benue”
“Our people are ready for the elections, we won the elections with a margin of of over 81, 000 votes yet INEC declared the elections inconclusive but for us in Benue, we are good to go.”
In his views the immediate past governor of the state and senator elect for Benue North East Dr. Gabriel Suswam said the party received the decision by INEC in good faith.
“We are confident of winning this elections anytime it is conducted. I also believe that federal government will availed the Benue people the freedom to choose those that will lead them.
“We are going to win this elections anytime it is conducted because our people have decided on what they want to do and that is voting the PDP“
Suswam charged members of the PDP not to be disturbed concluding that all that needed to be done is to go back to the drawing board and re- strategize with the view to ensuring victory for the PDP.
Governor-elect of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has dedicated his victory at the polls to the Almighty God and to the people of Benue state.
In his victory speech, Ortom described his victory as a profound honour to him and his deputy saying “It is with gratitude to God that my deputy and I accept the second mandate that you have given to us at the just concluded inconclusive elections.
He posited that the victory belongs to God and the people of the state even as he enjoined all those who contested with him to join him so that together they can build the Benue of their collective dream.
“I dedicate this victory to God, who assured me long ago that there will be giants on the way to hinder but He will surely grant me victory. I also dedicate this victory to the good people of Benue State and especially all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He also urged his supporters to engage in behavior that will promote peace and reconciliation as they celebrate and avoid use of hurtful and insulting political and folk songs.
“By the grace of God, I will setup a Peace, Truth and Reconciliation Committee. This will enable us to find ways to truly forgive one another, reconcile and usher in peace and development in Benue State.”
Ortom who acknowledged that he made mistakes in his first tenure, maintained that lessons have been learnt and that by the grace of God, those mistakes will be corrected and the new mandate will be greater than the first in delivering dividends of democracy to the Benue people.
“Our days in the wilderness are over. The Bible assures us that “better is the end of a matter than the beginning”.He expressed deep appreciation to the entire people of the state for the various sacrifices they have made during this election. “We appreciate INEC staff, security personnel, election observers, and Benue voters who have worked for the success of the elections.
“I specially appreciate my lovely wife, Dr. Mrs. Eunice Ortom for her support and staying power throughout the campaigns. I also appreciate the State chairman of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sir John Ngbede, and all members of the State Working Committee, our party leaders, Senators David Mark and Iyorchia Ayu, Senators elect, Rt. Hon. Dr. Gabriel Suswam, Rt. Hon. Orker Jev, and Comrade Abba Moro, as well as all our newly elected leaders at all levels for their great roles in our collective victory.
“I equally appreciate the DG and members of our campaign team, our canvassers, our party members and supporters for the great job they have done. They gave their all. I thank all members of the State Executive and Security Councils for their roles in this victory. Our God is good,” in God will trust, he added.
However the candidate of the the All Progressives Congress instead of conceding defeat and congratulating the governor elect, rather threatened to take a legal action to challenge the decision of INEC.
The Secretary Jime/ Ode Campaign Organisation professor Eugene Aliegba who drop the hint in a statement after the declaration, said the party will not in any way accept a stolen election from the PDP.
According to him, the party is making it unequivocally clear that the Benue APC will explore all constitutional and legal options available to ensure that the votes of the people count.
“In simple terms, we will make a case before the Election Petitions Tribunal to subject the Benue governorship elections result to an integrity test. If we opt otherwise, we will be as guilty as those who undertake acts that undermine democracy”
Professor Aliegba lamented that, the results announced in favour of Governor Ortom and the PDP is a direct product of brutal violence, vote buying, ballot-stuffing, results-falsification, non use of the card reader and a range of other irregularities that have no place in our electoral laws.
“We did not anticipate a third option that confers advantage to those who played dubiously outside the laid down rules of the game”
“As a peace loving party, we are saddened by reports of casualties, in some cases fatalities, and as well condemn such barbaric violence visited on voters and electoral officers in what ought to be a peaceful exercise”
While commending party supporters for keeping faith with the party, the APC also appealed them to remain calm in in the face of provocation.
Our correspondent observed that the defeated leader of APC in Benue, is yet to comment on the outcome of the elections.
