Benue guber 2023: PDP to settle for John Ngbede as Uba’s running mate

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is considering John Ngbede as running mate to its governorship flag bearer in Benue State, Titus Uba, IDOMA VOICE can report.

IDOMA VOICE gathered that Ngbede is the favourite among those earlier nominated for the DG slot.

Recall that Ubah won the PDP ticket ahead of Engr. Benson Abounu at the PDP governorship primaries held in Makurdi last week.

The reason stakeholders settled for Ngbede, who is the current chairman of the PDP in Benue State, a source said, was because Apa/Agatu axis is the only constituency that has not produced deputy governor in the state.
Ngbede is a native of Obagaji in Agatu LGA.

Old Okpokwu, old Oju and old Otukpo had all produced deputy governors in the past, leaving Apa/Agatu with none.

In 2015, Ngbede was running mate to the PDP flag bearer, Terhemen Tarzor but lost the seat to the Ortom/Abounu joint ticket.

Although there is serious agitation that the deputy governorship seat be zoned to Old Oju since Old Okpokwu now occupies the Senate seat, but some stakeholders believe it would be unfair because the zone had produced a deputy governor in the name of Prince Ogiri Ajene between 1999 to 2007.

“Ngbede has been accepted by majority of PDP stakeholders in Benue South and there is no doubt about that. There are issues of trust here and there but that are being ironed out and in few days, it would be made official,” the source told IDOMA VOICE.

If the PDP eventually settles for Uba/Ngbede joint ticket, it would be an interesting political fight in the state as the All Progressives Congress, APC, is in the other hand is considering Ali/Agada join ticket.