Benue to hold council polls next year

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has announced that his administration would conduct local government elections in the second quarter of next year.

He made the disclosure at the mass defection of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) members from Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency into the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Emmanuel Akume Atongo Stadium in Katsina-Ala at .the weekend
The Governor stated that his administration would conduct credible, free and fair council polls and would accept the verdict of the people in good faith.
He also announced plans to resuscitate Radio Benue Sub-Station in Katsina Ala to serve the people of the area and relocate the College of Education to its permanent site, saying he had already directed that the process to that effect should start immediately.
Governor Ortom reiterated the resolve of his administration to administer the state with the fear of God and run an inclusive government which will impact positively on the lives of the people of the state.

He assured the people of the Benue North East Senatorial District that his administration would ensure the establishment of some cottage industries across the state so as to enable the people of the area to process and add value to their primary agriculture produce.

The governor further announced plans to resuscitate Radio Benue Sub-Station in Katsina Ala to serve the people of the area and relocate the College of Education to its permanent site, saying he had already directed that the process to that effect should start immediately.

Governor Ortom reiterated the resolve of his administration to administer the state with the fear of God and run an inclusive government which will impact positively on the lives of the people of the state.
Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency is the home base of immediate past Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam and second Republic Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.Benjamin Chaha.

Besides Chaha, who led the defectors, former State Assembly members for Logo and Katsina-Ala constituencies, Godwin Akaan and Hembadoon Amena also joined him.
So did former PDP State youth yeader, Anaana J, Logo caucus chairman, John Tor-Akume, former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Government Liaison in Logo, Charles Gbor, with hundreds of their supporters.

Others were former State local government Auditor-General, Aloysius Apera, the former Governor’s cousin and youth activist, Jack Suswam, former Katsina-Ala council chairmen, David Chahul and Augustine Avaan and Martins Agir, their former Logo caretaker colleague, Priscilla Gondo, and former Director General of the defunct Sam Ode Governorship Campaign Organization, Job Tiza.
Former deputy chairmen in Ukum local government area, Barrister Akumeveiyol Tor-Musa and Vandefan Avyoko also left the PDP.

Receiving the new party members, Governor Ortom explained that APC was a party that believed in working collectively as a family and urged the defectors to team up with members already on ground to develop strategies that could make the party wax stronger in order to secure electoral victory at all levels.

He assured the people of the Benue North East Senatorial District that his administration would ensure the establishment of some cottage industries across the state so as to enable the people of the area to process and add value to their primary agriculture produce.