Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Incumbent Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has emerged winner of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Benue.
Governor Ortom polled a total of 2,210 votes to defeat his closest contender, Surv. John Tondo, who polled a distant 475 votes in the primary which held on Monday at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.
Others who contested the primary were former COREN Registrar, Engr. Felix Atume and former NAFDAC boss, Dr. Paul Orhii who scored 44 votes and 10 votes, respectively.
READ ALSO: Kaduna 2019: Isa Ashiru wins PDP primary, to challenge Gov. el-Rufai
As soon as it was obvious that the governor was coasting home to victory, Tondo, who all the while had been keenly watching the exercise stood to his feet, walked up to Governor Ortom and congratulated him.
The mammoth crowd also went into a frenzy of jubilation to celebrate the winner, but had to be calmed down by the electoral committee to allow the vote counting continue.
In her address, Chairman, PDP electoral Committee for the state, Hajia Zainab Maina, who announced the results, declared Governor Ortom winner of the primary and governorship candidate of the party for the 2019 general elections.
She explained that seven aspirants went into the race out of which three, including Prof. Tor Iorapuu, Dr. Tivlumun Nyitse and Barr. Dave Iorhemba, stepped down at the last minutes leaving four aspirants to contest the primary.
In his acceptance speech, the visibly elated Governor Ortom thanked all those who stood by him to ensure he came out victorious in the primary and promised to carry everyone along.