By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
Following the collapse of the People’s Democratic party, PDP, Governorship consensus arrangement, some Guber Aspirants have commenced campaigns after purchasing expression of interest and nomination forms ready to participate in the party’s primary slated for May, 2022.
It could be recalled that, the current Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Titus Uba was recently selected as the party’s consensus Aspirant by leaders of the 14 Tiv speaking Local Government Areas, comprising Benue North East and Benue North West.
Day Break’s checks indicated that the current Deputy Governor of the state, Engr Benson Abounu has emerged the consensus Aspirant of the PDP from Benue South.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom had contended that the party in the state will allow Aspirants vying for Governorship position to test their popularity during PDP primary if consensus arrangement failed.
The Governor said this at the Government House Makurdi when members of the G9 and G14 who were coordinating and negotiating emergence of a consensus candidate presented report to him recently.
One of the Aspirants who is stepping up efforts to realize his ambition to govern the state, Dr Paul Ubwa has fully commenced campaigns towards achieving this.
The Aspirant who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pleasure Travels Group of Companies while addressing Kwande PDP stakeholders and delegates at Adikpo in Benue State pointed out that the decision to contest for Governorship of the state was borne out of his desire to serve the people and bring true dividends of democracy to them.
“I have a clear vision for where I aspire the state to be, and Iam trusting God to execute this through mechanized agriculture, infrastructure development, improved healthcare services, improved security, education development, Industrial revolution and sports transformation.”
Reacting to the consensus arrangement, Dr Ubwa noted that ” following the completion of the zoning process and the process of a consensus, Titus Uba emerged as the consensus candidate and was presented to all Aspirants. The Kunav people initially reacted by requesting for for time to consult among themselves and they returned from their consultations with reservations.”
Continuing, the Guber Aspirant posited thus: ” Kwande was asked to comment, and speaking on behalf of Kwande, I noted that we accepted the decision of the party and would work with the Government to ensure the party’s victory in 2023. However if the Kunav people where the position was zoned to disagree with the party’s decision, then both the decision of the consensus candidate and zoning should be reversed and returned to Kwande because Kwande has a very ready candidate”.
Day Break learned that since the PDP consensus arrangement has collapsed, Dr Paul Ubwa and Titus Uba among other Aspirants from Benue Noth Eest are to meet Deputy Governor, Engr Benson Abounu who is the consensus candidate from Benue South at primary.
