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The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has won the Oju/Obi House of Representatives election in Benue State, Concise News understands.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) declared David Ogewu of APGA as the winner of the election.

Ogewu beat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clinch the seat with many of his supporters thronging his house in celebration.

In a related development, the APC and PDP in the state have been accusing one another of trying to rig the governorship election on Saturday.

The PDP had accused the APC and the federal government of trying to use the military to rig the elections.

On the other hand, the APC alleged that the presence of the military is needed in the North-Central state to halt PDP’s plans to retain power by all means.

Source; https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/2019-elections-apga-wins-house-of-reps-seat-in-benue-state/

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has described the sponsorship of youths to the Force Headquarters in Abuja to demand the deployment of more security personnel to the state for Saturday’s elections as desperation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to disrupt the elections.

Ortom, through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, stated yesterday that the aim of the APC was to force a shift of the polls to another date to suit its rigging agenda.His words: “The phony outing by the hired youths in Abuja, most of whom we noticed are not indigenes of Benue, has confirmed our earlier statement that APC plans to use Federal Government agencies to trigger political crisis in Benue, if their plan to rig the election fails.”

He noted that the first phase of the APC plan was to try to change the narrative that Benue people were the ones killing one another. Ortom admonished the Federal Government to resist the urge to militarise the coming elections in Benue, as the state is not at war.

In the same vein, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has expressed concern over the tensed security situation, particularly in Rivers State, ahead of the polls tomorrow.

The president, Fegalo Nsuke, stated yesterday that MOSOP members were worried about the violence in Rivers where over 30 persons were killed during and after the last federal ballot.

According to him, the Nigerian military has never been a friend of the Ogoni people and the scars of their past brutality are still very fresh.“We call on the Ogoni to be peaceful during the polls and be very vigilant to checkmate the use of the military and political thugs to deny the people their right to choose their leaders,” the statement added.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/gov-ortom-decries-apc-youths-call-for-heavier-security-in-benue/

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue, Emmanuel Jime said people have been the ones ranched instead of cattle, under Governor Samuel Ortom’s anti-open grazing law.

Jime stated this during a live “True-Talk Benue Gubernatorial Debate 2019” monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi.

He said that the implementation of the anti- open grazing law has been “politicised”.

He regretted that instead of the law guaranteeing the ranching of all livestocks, it had only succeeded in ranching human beings in camps across the state.

“I completely support the anti open grazing law. My only reservations with the law is its implementation. The implementation of the law has been politicised.

“There is no need to argue: at the moment it us human beings that have been ranched while cattle are all over the places.”

He further said that it appears that certain people in state stand to gain political benefits from the continuous stay of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the camps.

He said some politicians, especially in Benue state, seeking political offices do not know the job description of the office they seek to occupy. He said such people when they win elections are bound to fail.

The two-term House of Representatives member also said that he was contesting the elections following his antecedents and regretted that his main opponent, Ortom, has nothing to show for his four years in office.

He said his administration would institutionalise compulsory free primary education in the state and pledged to block all financial leakages.

The governorship candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Rev Frederick Ikyaan, said his administration would restore the lost glory of farming.

Ikyaan said his administration would also make use of the vigilante to effectively address security challenges.

NAN reports that the debate featured two other candidates Dr Stephen Akuma of the National Conscience Party (NCP) and Mr John Tseayo of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

Gov Samuel Ortom snubbed the debate though the organisers claimed all governorship candidates were invited. (NAN)

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/in-benue-people-are-ranched-instead-of-cattle-apcs-jime/[url][/url]

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Benue State, Emmanuel Jime, on Monday said the call for military presence for Saturday governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state was meant to protect lives.

The state Governor, Samuel Ortom, who is also the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, had on Sunday in a statement raised the alarm over what he called plan by the APC to militarise the state.

The governor had vowed that the people of the state would resist the plan.

But Jime, in a statement by his campaign organisation’s Deputy Director, Communication, Kula Terso, said the call for military presence was to secure the lives of the electorate.

He said, “We wish to state clearly that we have called on the Federal Government to send enough security to the state.

“The aim is to secure people’s lives and wishes which they will be demonstrating practically using their fingers on the ballot papers on Saturday.”

He expressed surprise that the state governor alleged that the call for more security presence was meant to rig elections for the APC.

He alleged that during the last elections, the PDP used thugs to harass voters in Guma, Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas.

“By our request for the presence of security to ensure peace, safeguard the people’s wishes and prevent frictions at voting centres that may snowball into crises where lives and properties maybe touched, Ortom and the PDP are no longer comfortable.
Moreover, is it not curious that same Governor Samuel Ortom who has consistently complained of security challenges in Benue State is now against security operatives coming in to ensure violence-free elections? Surely he has something up his sleeves,” he added.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/apc-gov-candidate-justifies-call-for-military-presence-in-benue/

Two men have been reportedly killed in Otukpo, Benue State, by a group of suspected cultists.

Concise News understands that the death of the two men took place on Sunday evening, in one of Benue’s major towns.
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It was gathered that one of the victims of the incident, Danladi Mustafa, is a tea and noodles seller (Mei-shayi), whose shop is opposite Total gas station.

According to Idoma Voice, the other victim of the attack has not been identified with the duo said to have been killed around Akpa street in Otukpo.

Otukpo had last Thursday witnessed the killing of four persons by suspected cultists but the police have not issued a statement on the recent happening as at the time of this report.

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/benue-inter-cult-clash-takes-more-lives-in-otukpo/

Benue State government has dismissed as unfounded, baseless and evil, allegations by All Progressives Congress, APC, that Governor Samuel Ortom set aside huge sum of money to compromise staff of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to win re-election.

APC in the state had, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. James Ornguga, made the allegation on social media, claiming “we have it on good authority that the state government has budgeted monies to compromise INEC officials in each of the polling units to influence the outcome of the election in its favour.”

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, the government insisted that APC was yet to recover from defeat at the recent elections in the state and facing a looming defeat at the next round of elections, hence the baseless allegation. The statement read in part: “These unfounded allegations being circulated in the media are surely the last kicks of a dying horse.

The results of the February 23 presidential and National Assembly polls, where PDP won all the three Senate seats, clear majority in the House of Representatives as well as votes cast for the presidential candidates, indicate that the party is the preferred choice of the Benue people. “Governor Ortom, who has grassroots support from the people who spoke loudly and clearly through these elections, has no need to compromise INEC staff to get votes through the backdoor.

“The people are poised to, once again, vote for him massively like they did in 2015 without any undue influence on the umpire. “Moreover, if Governor Ortom has the amounts of money mentioned in one of the reports, he would channel it towards more judicious use rather than use it for illegal purposes. “Since January 2018, salaries have been paid up to date, while funds are being sourced to pay the arrears.

Governor Ortom has had unblemished public and private sector records and there is no basis whatsoever to question his integrity. “The people love him and are prepared to repose their confidence in him once more. He has never and does not need to resort to the use of thugs and the militia or any form of self-help to prosecute election.”

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/benue-ridicules-apcs-allegation-of-plot-to-compromise-inec/

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Sunday said that the people of the state would resist any attempt to use the military to rig the governorship election in the state.

Governor Ortom said this in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase and made available to our correspondent in Makurdi.

The governor, in the statement, raised the alarm over what he described as plans by the All Progressives Congress to rig the forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections in Benue State.

The governor said that he received credible information that the leader of the APC in the state, Senator George Akume, told his party supporters during an exclusive meeting that he had requested military personnel from the Federal Government to enable the party to rig the coming elections in its favour.

The statement partly read, “Part of the plot, we understand, is to use the military to disrupt the elections, chase away voters in areas considered to be strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party and allow hitch-free rigging by the APC.

“Senator Akume boasted during the meeting that there would be no voting in Benue State on March 9 as the APC rigging machinery would ensure that the party gets massive illegal votes allotted to it.

“He has repeatedly stated that the party will not allow free and fair elections in Benue State. Akume anchors his ‘confidence’ on what he and his supporters call “federal might”. They believe that the APC-controlled Federal Government will send security operatives to help them subvert the electoral process to favour their party.

“The embattled Senator said his party had concluded plans to carry out massive thumb printing of ballot papers and altering of results for APC candidates in Benue State and if PDP feels aggrieved, the party should go to court.

“A few days ago, the defeated Senator led APC youths on a rampage within Makurdi and caused the destruction of PDP campaign billboards and posters. The illegal outing also disrupted traffic within the state capital for many hours.

“We find it necessary to draw the attention of the security forces and other stakeholders to these threats by the APC so that urgent preventive measures can be taken to guarantee free and fair conduct of the elections.”

Ortom said that the people of Benue deserved to be given equal protection to vote candidates of their choice in a peaceful atmosphere and not a militarised one, as planned by the APC.

He said the Nigerian military had no role in the casting or counting of votes.

“Any attempt to use the military to manipulate the coming governorship and House of Assembly elections in favour of the APC in Benue State will be resisted,” Ortom said.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/well-resist-attempt-to-militarise-benue-during-elections-gov-ortom/

Sixteen people were killed in a fresh attack on three communities in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected herdsmen.

The suspected herdsmen, who were said to have invaded the communities on Saturday, shot indiscriminately and killed 16 people.

The Chairman of Gwer West Local Government, Francis Ayagan, confirmed the attack.

He said, “Sixteen people were killed by militia herders in Tse Tuma, Chiachia and Tse Targu communities and neighbouring villages, all in Gwer West.”

Also confirming the attack, the sub-sector Commander of the Operation Whirl Stroke in charge of Gwer West, Flying Officer Mohammed Abubakar, said it was a reprisal for cows that were allegedly rustled on Friday by people he claimed were livestock guards in military uniform.

The sub-sector commander said seven corpses had so far been recovered from the affected communities.

Abubakar said the chairman of Gwer West Local Government Area of the state had given the names of seven members of livestock guards, who he alleged were the perpetrators of the violence to the OPWS.

Abubakar said, “At about 4.30 pm on Saturday, information got to me that some people in military uniform were sighted at the Agape Forest and I mobilised my men to the forest.

“My men embarked on a search and discovered that those behind the rustling of cows are members of the livestock guards.

“We later traced them to Ter Nagi’s Palace and discovered 22 cattle there but he (the monarch) claimed that they belonged to him.

“Thereafter, we contacted the DPO, who equally identified the rustlers as members of the Livestock Guards who disguised as military men to rustle cattle and butchered them for sale at the Naka Market.

“As I speak with you, they are selling the meat at the market. The DPO also gave the names of seven persons who are members of the Livestock Guards involved in the incident.

“Just this afternoon, our men went on a mop up patrol and discovered four additional dead bodies at the scene of the incident.”

The monarch of Naka, headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area, Ter Nagi Chief Daniel Abomtse, said there was heavy attack in some communities in his domain.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/suspected-herdsmen-kill-16-in-fresh-benue-attack/

Youths suspected to be members of All Progressives Congress, yesterday, went on rampage in Makurdi town, destroying Governor Samuel Ortom’s and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, campaign billboards.

The said youths, who moved in a motorcade, created tension and fear in the town while people scampered for safety for fear of being caught in a reprisal by PDP youths. It however took the intervention of the Police to avert a crisis in the town.

Reacting to the development, Governor Ortom appealed to PDP supporters and residents to exercise restraint and remain calm. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, the governor said: “We must all remain calm despite the provocation by some youths of APC who went on rampage today destroying billboards and posters belonging to PDP within the State capital.

“Senator George Akume who propelled the youths to embark on the destruction of PDP campaign materials is only lamenting his defeat at last Saturday’s election by inciting youths to cause mayhem in Makurdi and other towns in the State.

“Since 1999, Dr. George Akume has been winning elections but those he defeated never went on rampage in the town to incite youths against him. They accepted defeat in good faith and those who were aggrieved took their cases to the election tribunal to seek redress.

“For him to lose the last election and choose to embark on destruction of campaign billboards and posters of his opponents thereby causing traffic problems in town, is quite unfortunate and regrettable.

“As a leader, Akume is expected to be a good example to the young generation by toeing the path of peace in the interest of the state. I advise him and anyone else who wants to destabilise Benue State to respect the rule of law and approach the courts if they feel aggrieved over results of the elections.”

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/apc-youths-destroy-ortom-pdp-billboards-in-benue/

Ahead of the March 9 governorship election in the country, electorate in Benue State have vowed to reelect Governor Samuel Ortom for second term.

The residents said Ortom has been standing for the people despite challenges and would not be disappointed at the polls.

Some residents described Ortom as the ‘Defender of the Benue Valley’, who has gone through snow and fire to defend his people.

Mr. Erdo Yisa, a business woman in the Modern Market, Makurdi, said Benue people will never allow any other person rule them.

“Well, we have succeeded in chasing away those who have held us hostage for years now. Benue people have gone beyond the era of godfatherism and imposition of leaders on the people. The defeat of Dajoh (Akume) on Saturday should tell you that we are not joking here.

“On Saturday, we will all storm the polls to reelect the Defender of Benue Valley, Governor Ortom. As far as I am concerned, he doesn’t have any opponent.”

Also speaking, Ngozi Elendu, an Igbo business woman resident in Makurdi, said she and her family would be voting for Ortom.

“For me and my family, we have agreed to vote for Ortom, reason being that this man has suffered a lot for his people. I have been leaving in Benue for about 25 years now and what happened in the last four years has not happened in the history of the state.

“Despite the killings, he stood gallantly for his people. He has my vote.”

On his part, Ejembi Onuh, a civil servant in Otukpo, said the people of Benue South would vote overwhelmingly for Ortom on Saturday.

“The governorship election is sealed and settled. The last election should tell you that Nigerians no longer vote parties but individuals. Ortom deserves our vote. We can’t allow anybody impose any leader on us again.

“We don’t trust those people they want to bring, we have tested Ortom and we trust him. We saw his strength and weakness and we believe he would do better when given another chance with the support of our people. As for me and my family, it is automatic.”

Also, the leader of Idoma Youth Integrity Network, Samson Oyiwodu, said his group has been going from door to door to canvas for votes for Ortom.

“We have done our homework and I can assure you that Ortom is winning. We had one-on-one interactions with the people and we know what they want.

“They told us their grievances against the governor and we have informed the governor, equally.

“Ortom will get his second term ticket, you can take this to the bank. If this is the only reward he would get for standing by the people against killers. His victory is not negotiable.”

Also, the secretary general of Young Igede Political Forum, Ajah Elvis, said the Igede community has agreed to vote for Ortom on Saturday.

“As you can see, I’m just returning from Oju where we went to address the people on the need to support Ortom. I can assure you that Ortom has no problem in Igede land.

“We are voting for him. We won’t buy the lies they are trying to sell to us. Ortom has our votes and we will defend it.”

Similarly, some commercial motorcyclists, also known as okada, who spoke with DAILY POST in Otukpo, said all their members across the 23 local government areas of the state have resolved to vote Ortom.

In Gboko, some youths, who were seen singing victory songs over the defeat of George Akume of the APC by Orker Yisa Jev at the Saturday’s senatorial election in Benue North West, said the governorship election is going to be a walkover for Ortom.

One of the jubilant youths, who gave his name as Iorliam, said, “See my PVC, voted for Jev and I am happy he won. On Saturday is going to be a walk-over for Ortom. We shall return here on next week for another victory party.”

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/03/why-we-will-re-elect-gov-ortom-for-second-term-benue-residents/

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Borno Central Senatorial district, Mohammed Abba-Aji, has rejected the election results, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said his rejection was based on All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership and some INEC officials’ alleged manipulation and allocation of election results to themselves.

Addressing journalists yesterday at his Maiduguri residence, Abba-Aji said the collated election results; were however; manipulated by using fake ballot papers and ballot box snatching by hired thugs in Maiduguri metropolis.

He said the electoral malpractices in Saturday’s polls violated the 2010 Electoral Act, as amended.

His words: “We, the PDP candidates who contested in last Saturday’s elections have rejected the process and results of the manipulated elections in Maiduguri metropolis.”

Also, the PDP in Benue State yesterday urged INEC to respect the people’s wish and declare Emmanuel Orker Jev winner of Benue North West Senatorial district.

It enjoined INEC to resist similar attempts, which might be made to subvert the will of the people across the state in the interest of democracy.

Briefing journalists in Makurdi, state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Bemgba Iyortom, commended the people of the state for their support for the party at the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He said the people braved all odds to exercise their franchise, noting that although INEC was yet to announce the official results, evidence from party agents had shown that Benue people voted the PDP.

Meanwhile, Director General of Kwara PDP Campaign Organisation, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, has described report credited to him that Senate President Bukola Saraki has conceded defeat in last Saturday’s Kwara Central Senatorial district election, as false.

In a statement, he affirmed that he neither spoke with the author of the report, nor issued a statement on PDP and Saraki’s position on the outcome of the elections in the state.

“If anything, I align with PDP agent’s position at the collation centre, Isiaka Magaji that the election was characterised by malpractices in some polling units across the four local government areas of the district,” he stated.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/02/pdp-rejects-results-in-borno-urges-inec-to-declare-emmanuel-jev-winner-in-benue/

The Grassroots Empowerment Initiative for Positive Change and Development on Monday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly elections in the Benue North West senatorial district.

The group was one of the accredited election observers for the poll.

The group’s team leader, Mr Jimmy Feyisola-George, made the call at a press conference in Makurdi.

Feyisola-George said the call became necessary after the group observed that elections in the zone were marred by inconsistencies and irregularities.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/02/observer-group-wants-elections-cancelled-in-benue-north-west/

Lady Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President, David Mark has won the Otukpo Ohimini House of Reps seat.

Mrs. Onuh floored her uncle and Benue State Deputy Speaker, Egli Johnson Ahubi with wide margin.

Meanwhile, Ahubi has conceded defeat and congratulated Onuh for winning the seat.

The Deputy Speaker, Engineer Ahubi in a congratulatory message to Lady Blessing Onuh said despite the many hitches experienced in the process, he accepted outcome of the election as the will of God.

Engineer Ahubi, who thanked all his supporters for the dogged fights, urged them to take the outcome in good faith and continue to work hard in order to deliver all PDP candidates in the next month’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

source; https://www.benuepress.com/2019/02/david-marks-daughter-defeats-her-uncle-to-win-otukpo-ohimini-reps-seat-under-apga-in-benue/

The Governor of Benue State, Mr Samuel Ortom; a former Senate President, David Mark, and the senator representing Benue North West, (popularly known as Zone B), Mr George Akume, on Sunday, held a closed-door meeting with the state Resident Electoral Officer, Dr. Nentawe Goshwe.

Collation and announcement of result were ongoing at the collation hall when the three politicians came to the state Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters. They, however, did not interfere with the exercise.

Ortom and Mark arrived in the venue together at 6pm and headed to Goshwe’s office. Akume later joined them.

Speaking with journalists in Makurdi, after the 30-minutes meeting, Ortom alleged that some soldiers went to Gboko collation centre and took away the election materials and also whisked away the returning officer heading for Makurdi, the INEC state headquarters.

He stated that they were apprehensive and came to see the REC over the matter, adding that he assured them that all would be well.

He said, ““Otherwise the senator representing Zone B had boasted that he will ensure that the result was overturned after losing six local government out of seven LGs and we all have the result sheets in the wards and polling units. It was just at the LG level that the army intercepted. We have said before that we want true, transparent election.’’

The governor said it was illogical that Akume would call for the cancellation of the results from Guma council area where he (Ortom) voted.

He said, “How can the senator call for the cancellation of the election? There was no rigging. This is not the first time, since 1992, I have been winning election in my LG because I have always stood for the people I represent. They have always supported me any time I come. There is no basis whatsoever. The card reader was there, the process is there, the rules of the game are there. He should be calling for the cancellation of the result in his own ward. I have also petitioned that there are issues with certain wards, they chased away our agents and drove them away.”

Ortom also raised the alarm that he was unaware of the whereabouts of the state Peoples Democratic Party agent, Dr Cletus Tyoka, allegedly arrested by the police on Saturday.

Speaking with journalists after meeting with the REC, Akume said he had a normal consultation with Goshwe. He said he had no hand in the removal of the electoral materials, accusing Ortom of spreading falsehood.

Akume also apologised to the people of Benue State for helping Ortom to become their governor.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/02/gov-ortom-mark-akume-hold-meeting-with-benue-rec/

President Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has scored 12,197 votes in Tarka Local Government Area to floor Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who had 4,875 votes.

Announcing the results on Sunday in Makurdi, the INEC Collation Officer for the election in Tarka local government area, Prof. Simon Ejembi, said the local government area had 10 registration areas with 50,180 total number of registered voters. According to him, the total accredited voters were 18,749 while total number of valid votes were 17,424.

He said the total number of rejected votes stood at 1,089 and the total number of votes cast were 18,513. Also announcing the result of the presidential poll for Ado Local Government Area, the collation officer, Prof Idugba Echi, said PDP polled 8,614 to defeat president Buhari of the APC. He said APC polled 5,373, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) polled 689.

The collation officer said the local government council , which has 10 registration areas, had a total of 73,129 registered voters with 16,747 accredited voters, while 1,093 votes were rejected. He explained that the total number of votes cast were 16,413.

https://www.benuepress.com/2019/02/president-buhari-atiku-share-2-lgas-in-benue/

Today, the people of Benue South senatorial district would for the first time in 20 years vote for a new leader to represent them at the Senate.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, former military Governor of Niger State, Senator David Mark has been the occupant of the senatorial seat.

For the first time in 20 years, the people of the zone would be casting their votes without Mark in the race.

Mark, President of the 6th and 7th Senate is stepping aside, having contested for the seat five times and won all, including a senatorial rerun in 2016.

A trip across the nine local government areas in the senatorial district showed that there is palpable tension and uneasy calm in most areas visited.

At villages and market squares, people were seen debating over who should be the right person to represent Idoma and Igede communities at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.

Although, over 16 persons are currently in the race to step into the ‘big’ shoes of Brig. Gen. David Mark (rtd), but three persons are candidates to watch in this historic election.

Among the three top contenders are: Former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, representing the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, former Deputy Governor of Benue State, Steve Lawani of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Mike Okibe Onoja, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Another person to watch out for in this election is Usman Abubakar (Young Alhaji) of the Advance Peoples Democratic Alliance, APDA.

How they stand…

Abba Moro (PDP)

In Idoma land, the name Moro is like an anthem. During our tour of the nine local government areas that made up the senatorial district, his name was on the lips of people.

Most people believed he has no opponent as far as the senatorial race is concerned.

Most of them said Moro would be returned elected because of the employment opportunities he gave to people of the area when he held sway at the ministry of interior and his magnanimity.

Political analysts believe that it would be a clean sweep for him in Otukpo, Okpokwu, Ohimini, Apa, Agatu and most likely, Ado.

However, observers said the votes in Ogbadibo, Obi and Oju would be divided among the top contenders, including Young Alhaji.

Among the three top contenders, Moro is the youngest but the peoples’ favourite.

He would be banking on the people to ‘pay’ him back for his past records.

Also, Benue South has been dominated by the Moro’s PDP for 20 years and story might not change this time around.

The youths and women folks would likely go this way.

Steve Lawani (APC).

He’s fondly called the ‘silent achiever.’ Reserved and calm, Lawani, former Deputy Governor of Benue State is a man to watch in today’s election.

A man of few words but highly rooted.

Lawani believes that blowing trumpet about one’s political achievements is unnecessary, hence, reason he’s not talking what he did as deputy governor of the state for eight years.

In Ogbadibo, which is his territory, it might not be a clean sweep for him because most of Moro’s strong men hailed from this area.

Lawani would find Owukpa a hard nut to crack but Orokam and Otukpa may stand for him.

He is believed to be banking on federal might for a smooth ride.

Lawani would sure get good votes from Oju and Obi (Igede nation) might not be big enough to settle the score.

The elderly men would toe this path.

Mike Onoja (SDP)

Two major odds against Chief Mike Onoja in today’s election is his age and political instability.

Within the last four years, Onoja, who is beleived to be in his 80s has pitched his tent with three different political parties.

Before the 2015 general elections, Onoja was in the race for the Peoples Democratic Party’s ticket.

However, on the day of the primary between him and the then Senate President, David Mark, Onoja announced his withdrawal from the race and declared his support for Mark, having spent millions of naira canvassing for votes.

In 2016, he announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress during the rerun, citing the wind of change blowing across the country as his reason.

Surprisingly, in 2018, Onoja made a second return to the PDP and declared his ambition for the Senate but lost woefully during the party’s primary to Moro.

Consequently, he defected to the SDP and was given the party’s senatorial ticket, which was hitherto held by Adakole Ijogi.

Most people don’t really trust his judgement and political calculations.

Even in his country home, Ado, Onoja may not pull reasonable votes due to a long-standing royal tussle in the area.

Most of his votes might come from Igede community (Oju and Obi).

Few Igede elders would go for him.

While one may not be bold enough to predict the result of today’s election, it won’t be unwise to say that it is going to be a battle between the federal and the local mights.

No doubt, the area is tensed; the people are in suspense and waiting eagerly to see a new face at the Senate after 20 years of ‘Markmania’.’

The battle is on.

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2019/02/tension-as-benue-south-elects-david-marks-replacement-after-20-years/