MAKURDI – Ten governorship aspirants on the platform of the PDP on Tuesday withdrew from the ongoing governorship primaries in Benue on account of personal reasons.
The News Agency Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Prof. David Ker, Andy Owouku, Alex Adum, Hinga Biem, Felix Atume, Tivlumun Nyitse, Dr Eugine Aliegba, Mr Simon Anchaver, James Mbachiantim and Terhemba Nongo, individually announced their withdrawal at the election venue.
Those still in the race are former Minister of Justice, Mike Aondoakaa; Deputy Gov. Steve Lawani; Mr Sam Ode, Mrs Ada Chenge, Mathias Oyigeya, former Trade and Industry Minister, Samuel Ortom; Terhemen Tarzoor and Terhemba Shija.
The aspirants had foiled an attempt to impose on them a consensus candidate by insisting that a contest must take place.
Addressing the delegates, the Chairman of the electoral panel, Amb. Adamu Saidu, assured them of a level-playing field.
He said the panel would abide by the party’s guidelines and assured of free and credible polls.
Earlier, one of the aspirants, Aondoakaa, irked by the delay in beginning the polls, said the exercise was holding outside the stipulated time given by the party.
He said the elections were scheduled to hold on Dec. 8 but had entered into Dec. 9, which was outside the original timetable.
A NAN correspondent, who was duly accredited to cover the elections, was sent out of the venue by the police on the grounds of not being properly accredited while wearing his accreditation tag.
The elections had not commenced as at 1:35 a.m.
In Auchi, Edo, Sen. Domingo Obende, lost his bid to return to the Senate.
Obende, representing Edo North, lost to his opponent, Mr Francis Alimikhena by 831 votes to 198 while Prof. Julius Ihonvbere scored 815 votes.
Announcing the result on Tuesday, the Returning OPfficer, Mr Tony Momodu, said Alimikhena won by 831 votes out of 1,851 accredited delegates, with seven votes voided.
In his acceptance speech, Alimikhena thanked the delegates and promised to render qualitative representation and service to the people.
“This victory for me is a victory for change. This is democracy in action.
“The people’s wish has prevailed; that is why you see some people will have lower votes and others will have higher votes.
“So it is democracy for the people and people like us benefit from such exercise today,’’ he said.(NAN)
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