EXCLUSIVE! Benson Abounu may resign as Ortom’s deputy, to join Benue governorship race

Baring any last minute change of mind, Engr Benson Abounu, the deputy governor of Benue State may resign his position, IDOMA VOICE has authoritatively gathered.

The development, IDOMA VOICE learnt might not be unconnected to the recent defection of his boss, Samuel Ortom to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on Wednesday.

This newspaper exclusively reported last week that Ortom had concluded plan to dump Abounu as his running mate in 2019.

Geroge Alli, Nelson Alapa had been penned down as his possible replacement.

A reliable insider hinted this reporter that Abounu, a native of Otukpo, Idoma speaking part of the state had tried severally to convince his boss, Ortom from dumping the APC but his efforts were futile.

The source said the deputy governor was never in support of Ortom’s decision to ditch the party, which gave them the governorship ticket on a platter of gold in 2014.

Abounu was a strong member of the defunct All Nigeria’s Peoples Party, ANPP, which later became Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and then the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2014.

Our source said the deputy governor may resign his position and join the governorship race in a bid to break the jinx as the first Idoma governor.

“He has seen the handwriting on the wall that Ortom would dump him after the PDP primaries and the best option is to save his head and join the race on the platform of the APC.

“He may deputise whoever the APC may eventually field as guber candidate.

“As we speak, the deputy governor is currently meeting with elders in his zone to proffer the way forward but you can take this to the bank, Abounu may resign soon,” the source who pleaded not to be mentioned hinted our reporter.

However, efforts to reach his spokesman, Ogaba Edeh could not yield any result at the moment as his phones were switched off at the time of this report.