2019: Egli Ahubi reveals how APC will be disgraced in Benue

As activities begin to gear up towards 2019 general elections, a member of the Benue House of Assembly, Hon. Egli Johnson Ahubi, has revealed some nuggets on how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would sustain its reign in Benue South in 2019.

Despite the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and at the national levels, the PDP proved its dominance in Benue South during 2015 general elections, by winning 10 out of 11 House of Assembly seats, while clearing the whole 4 seats for House of Representatives and the only senatorial seat.

To sustain such feat in 2019, Hon. Ahubi tasked the leadership of the PDP on internal democracy, urging them to provide level playing ground for aspirants vying for various positions in the party.

Ahubi who is a leading contender for the House of Representatives seat for Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency made the call in Otobi-Akpa (Otukpo) and Ochobo- Ohimini Local Government area respectively during his declaration to party executives at both local government and ward levels.

The aspirant who is currently representing Otukpo/Akpa State Constituency in the Benue State Assembly, said, “a level playing ground for all aspirants would not only give credence to the exercise but would also convince aspirants and their supporters to accept the outcomes of the forthcoming primaries”.

The parliamentarian further advised the party to steer from sharp practices in the electoral process, stressing that, “undue favouritism and imposition of candidates would hurt the spirit and the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party at the moment”.

He advised aspirants to shun abusive language capable of causing disharmony within the party, saying that the party needs all hands to be on deck after the primaries.

Hon. Ahubi leveraged on the opportunity to highlight some of his achievements as a member of the State Assembly. Since he began to swim in the murky water of politics, he recounted that he has made tremendous contributions to law making in plenary and oversight functions.

In providing uncommon representation and responsive leadership to his constituency, he said he has “provided agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and herbicides to farmers, graded some rural roads, constructed some culverts and drainages, gave scholarships to indigent pupils and students, paid medical bills of numerous distressed patients, provided grants to educational establishments and constructed health centres”.

In the same vein, he pointed out that he, “electrified several communities and provided electricity distribution transformers as lifelines to some communities”.

In the area of empowerment, Ahubi disclosed that he “distributed equipment to boost Small and Medium Scale Enterprises such as hair dryers, sewing machines, computers, motorbikes, grinding machines”.

To stem the tide of social vices among the youth in his constituency, the legislator said he organizes the annual Egli Unity Football tournament known as Egli Unity cup. The frontiers of the tournament, he explained, has been broadened to cover the entire Federal Constituency.

In curbing the current tide of insecurity in Otukpo Local Government Area, Ahubi said he procured and donated vehicles to support security operations, adding that he also built and donated security posts to the Vigilante in Otukpo/Akpa.

According to the legislator, intervening in the security matter, became imperative due to rising cases of cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, insurgency and Fulani/Herdsmen conflicts.

A hallmark of the event was the donation of a gift of Peugeot 406 salon car to the Otukpo Local Government PDP chairman, Mr Abel Otobi to enhance party operations.

In their various responses, Chairman of Otukpo LGA Peoples Democratic Party and his Ohimini counterpart, Adakole Akatu thanked Hon. Ahubi for his kind gestures and wished him well in his political aspiration. They commended the lawmaker for his steadfastness and commitment to the party during its moment of trials.