The Independent Electoral Commission ( INEC) has declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress ( APC), Chief Samuel Ortom as the winner of the election held last Saturday in Benue State.
Ortom polled 422,932 votes to defeat PDP’s candidate, Terhemen Tarzor who had 313, 878 votes.
Ortom’ election was greeted with jubilation across the state.
Tarzoor of the PDP has congratulated Ortom on his victory.
In a telephone call by 9.40pm on Sunday, Tarzoor said he aspired for the position so as to have the opportunity to make his contributions to the development of the state.
He said Chief Ortom’s election was a clear indication that Benue people have spoken.
He wished the Governor- elect a successful tenure of office and God’s blessings.
Tag: Ortom
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Benue: APC’s Ortom declared winner
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APC candidate Ortom decries killing
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, has condemned the killing of three supporters at Asom in Logo Local Government during last Saturday’s elections.
He vowed to bring to book the perpetrators of the attack, which also left six people injured.
Speaking to The Nation after he visited some of the victims at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Apir in Makurdi, Ortom decried the attack on harmless APC members.
Briefing the APC standard-bearer on his arrival at the FMC, the Director-General of Ortom/Abounu Campaign Organisation, Prof. Steven Ugba, said the gunmen in a Toyota car stormed NKST Asom polling unit when the results were being collated and APC was leading.
He said they shot dead Chiahemba Atim, Mdoter Aondover and Terhemen Orkurga.
According to him, among the injured were Iorvenda Orachii, Imoter Asom, Baaku Terver, Kertorga Naian and Saater Gbuwo.
Ugba condemned the killing. He urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute the culprits.
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APC candidate Ortom coasts home to victory in Benue
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, is coasting home to victory in the governorship elections held in the state on Saturday.
With 22 local government areas governorship election results announced by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) electoral officers, the APC candidate is leading with 91,564 votes.
Of the 22 local government area results announced, APC received 387, 753 votes. The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) got 296,189 votes.
APC has already won in 14 local governments while the PDP won in eight.
Only one local government area, Buruku, is still being awaited.
Observers said that the only outstanding local government would not make any difference in the entire result.
Already, APC supporters in the state have taken to the streets in wild celebration of their victory.
One major upset in the election was the defeat of PDP in Otukpo Local Government Area, where the Senate President, David Mark, hails from.
The APC candidate received 15,715 votes to PDP candidate’s 14,519 votes.
Other votes announced included Gwer East Local Government, APC 23831 votes while PDP got 12,657 votes; Oju Local Government, APC16,948, PDP 10,491.
In Vandekya APC got 33,075 while PDP received 15,228 votes, Tarka Local Government, APCGOT 14,888 votes to defeat PDP which received 3,571 votes.
In Makurdi Local Government, APC had upper hand with 33,245 votes while PDP got 23,550, Obgadibo Local Government also had upper hand with 7,892 votes to PDP’s 7,358 votes.
In Obi Local Government APC 7,786 votes while PDP got 8, 440 votes also in Okpoku Local Government APC 7,209 votes while PDP received 10,849 votes.
In Apa Local Government, APC got 7,132 votes while PDP received 7,582 votes.
In Gwer West, APC secured 11,844 votes while PDP received 13,033 votes.
In Agatu Local Government APC got 5, 860 while PDP received 15,032.
In Logo Local government, Governor Gabriel Suswam’s local government, PDP got 26,964 votes while APC received 8,852 votes.
The returning officer said that only PDP agent endorsed the result. He also said that 11 polling units were cancelled while there were cases of ballot box snatching, kidnapping and burning down of INEC office in the area.
Other results announced included, Katsina Ala, where APC got 17,266 while PDP received 25,841.
In Gboko, APC scored 55,002 while PDP got 17,042. Ushongo Local government: APC received 24,199 votes to PDP’s 13,122 votes. In Ado, APC got 6,618 while PDP received 7,123 votes
Guma local government: APC got 11,545 votes while PDP received 26,917 votes.
In Konshisha, APC received 31,410 votes while PDP secured 8,268 votes.
Also, in Ukum, APC received 13,735 votes while PDP got 9,471 votes.
In Kwande, APC got 33,701 votes while PDP received 19,132 votes.
APC received 6,294 votes to defeat PDP with 6,135 votes in Ohimili local government.
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Ortom beats Tarzoor at Benue Govt House
Benue State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Chief Samuel Ortom, defeated his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponent Terhemen Tarzor at the Government House Polling unit.
Ortom scored 145 votes to Tarzoor’s 119.
Also at Annunne Market Square Polling Unit in Tarka local Government area, the APC polled 324 votes as against the PDP which scored 14 votes.
Tarzoor polled 152 votes at the Ankpa Ward Polling Unit, an area where he grew up to beat Ortom with 150 votes.
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Ortom, three other guber candidates’ debate
Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, Chief Dr Samuel Ortom Friday debated with three other candidates of different political parties at the Smile View, Hotel, in Makurdi.
Others candidates were Barrister Boniface Oheme of All Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Dr Iyorwuese Ligom, Labor Party, and Rev Samuel Gar, Social Democratic Party, SDP.
The event was organized by the Benue Coalition of Business and Professional Associations in conjunction with the Center for International Private Enterprises and Nigeria Elections Debate Group.
It was held at the Smile View Hotel in Makurdi.
A panel of four journalists asked the candidates questions on why each was contesting, how they would address internally generated revenue, multiple taxation, how to stem corruption, power generation, herdsmen and farmers’ violence, addressing decay in the education sector and how to boost the low morale of civil servants.
The candidates shared similar views on most of the issues stating for instance that they would address the power challenge by exploiting solar, wind, hydro and coal resources of the state by providing an enabling environment for private investors to invest in the sector.
Ortom promised to anchor his administration on the fear of God which he said would engender core values including transparency, accountability, integrity, truthfulness, selflessness, justice, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and unity which he said would make development inevitable.
He said he would implement free and compulsory primary and secondary education which he would fund by generating revenue from the boost he would give to the private sector by providing it with an enabling environment for industrialization, small and medium scale enterprises as well as commercial and trading activities in addition to attracting investment into the state on
He said the initiatives would be targeted at generating massive jobs, wealth and opportunities.
The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment pledged to dialogue with the other tiers of government to solve problems of multiple taxation and violence between herdsmen and farmers.Chairman of the organizers, Mr. Iyornumbe Ime stated that the debate provided an opportunity for candidates to market their programs and canvass votes as well as interact with one another and members of the public at no cost.
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APC defends choice of Ortom, Gemade as candidates
Senate Minority Leader George Akume has defended the choice of Dr. Samuel Ortom as the Benue State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate.
He described him as a patriot and community man, who is concerned about the plight of the people.
Akume also justified the choice of Senator Barnabas Gemade as the flag bearer of the party in Benue District.
Senator Akume made the disclosure at the flag off of the APC campaigns at the RCM Primary School, Zaki-Biam, Ukum local government area.
The former governor said, having worked closely with the former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment, he and other leaders had noticed his passions for development.
He said, although it was the consensus of the people that the next governor should come from the Minda geopolitical axis, he subscribed to the position of the late Senator J S Tarka that both the Tor Tiv and Governor should not come from the same lineage at the same time.
Senator Akume denied claims that he hated a particular group among the Tiv, saying he loved the entire people and cannot discriminate against them.
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Ogbe: Ortom has formula to tackle Benue’s challenges
All Progressives Congress (APC) Board of Trustees (BoT) member, Chief Audu Ogbe, has said the party’s Benue State governorship candidate, Samuel Ortom, has the formula to tackle the challenges confronting the state.
Ogbe spoke yesterday at the beginning of the party’s governorship, state and National assemblies’ campaigns in Benue South Senatorial District at Otukpo.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) former National Chairman said as a successful industrialist, Ortom possessed the key to solve the state’s most nagging problems, including unemployment.
He described the PDP as a mega mafia, which had deviated from the dreams of its founding fathers.
Ogbe said the ruling party was pandering to the whims and caprices of a few at the expense of the majority.
The former Information Minister urged Nigerians to vote for APC candidates in this month’s general elections to change the nation’s fortunes.
He regretted that while Nasarawa and Osun states, which received far less federal allocation than Benue, were discharging their financial responsibilities to their people, salaries and pensions remained unpaid in Benue State.
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I’ll implement my blueprint, says Ortom
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, has said he will implement the blueprint designed by his Policy and Strategy Committee if elected.
He spoke at a meeting with members of the committee at Smile View Hotel in Makurdi, the state capital.
Ortom urged the people to elect a governor with creative ideas who would think outside the box in tackling challenges.
The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment, said God had adequately prepared him with experience at all tiers of government to confront the state’s challenges.
Committee chairman, Prof Dennis Ityavyar, said the blueprint was done in line with the APC manifesto.
Ityavyar said the document covers areas, such as good governance and revenue security, agriculture-driven industrialisation, health care, provision of critical infrastructure and women, youths, gender as well as people with disabilities as priorities.
The governorship running mate, Benson Abounu, hailed the spirit of sacrifice exhibited by the committee’s members, adding that the task of salvaging the state required the inputs of all major stakeholders.
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Ortom picks Benson Abounu as running mate
•APC reaffirms candidate’s nomination
Benue State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Samuel Ortom, has picked a former Commissioner for Water Resources in the George Akume administration, Benson Abounu, as his running mate.
Ortom’s choice came as the party reaffirmed his nomination as its candidate.
Abounu hails from Otukpo-Icho community in Otukpo Local Government Area, the home of the Senate President David Mark. He is a close ally of former governor and Senate Minority Leader George Akume, who doubles as leader of the party in the state.
Benue State APC reaffirmed Ortom’s nomination as the party’s governorship candidate in the 2015 election.
In a statement in Makurdi, the state capital, by APC State Chairman Abba Yaro; Publicity Secretary Baba Ayemti and Organising Secretary Titus Zam, the party said its national headquarters in Abuja had formally forwarded the former Minister of State’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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Benue APC settles for Ortom as governorship candidate
Former Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry, Chief Samuel Ortom has emerged as the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State.
Chief Ortom emerged after other governorship aspirants stepped down for him at the end of a close door meeting brokered by the senate minority leader, Senator George Akume, in Makurdi.
APC governorship aspirants who stepped down for Chief Ortom are Mike Iordye, Akange Audu and Emmanuel Jime.
Chief Ortom will now face PDP candidate Terhemen Tarzor in the general elections.
In the last one week the Senate Minority Leader, Dr. George Akume, has admitted PDP bigwigs into APC family in Benue State.
First to dump PDP for APC is a former National Chairman of the PDP and BOT member, Chief Barnabas Gemade, who also picked the Benue North East senatorial seat ticket and will face Governor Gabriel Suswam.