Following the abysmal performance of the Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State in last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections, Governor Samuel Ortom has assured his party members of better outing in the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections.
Ortom, who was defeated in the race for Benue North-West Senatorial District, said his team was studying the poll result and he would make his position known.
He, however, called for calm among his supporters, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission not to ignore the voices picking holes in the process.
Ortom’s public support for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, instead of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, led to the poor performance of PDP in the state during Saturday’s polls.
PDP’s Atiku lost in Benue while the party also lost two Senate seats and 10 House of Representatives seats.
In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Terver Akase, Ortom, who himself failed to win the senatorial election, appreciated Benue people for their peaceful conduct during the polls.
The statement read in part, “Governor Ortom particularly thanks the Peoples Democratic Party in the state for its support and gives assurance that he will continue to provide leadership to unite the party and strengthen the family bond among members, ahead of the March 11 governorship and state Assembly elections.
“He expresses gratitude to those who voted for him during the Benue North-West Senatorial District election and states that the massive show of love and support has encouraged him.
“He, however, says though a number of violations of the Electoral Act were witnessed in the conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections, his team is assessing the situation and would make his position known soon.
“The governor urges the people of the state to remain calm, law-abiding and as peaceful as they have been.”
