The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially commenced its campaign in preparation for the local government elections scheduled for October 5.
During a flag presentation ceremony held on Wednesday in Makurdi, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, AVM Napoleon Bali, represented by Secretary Osita Ogene, urged the party’s chairmanship and councilorship candidates to actively participate in the elections and secure a victory for the PDP.
Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, affirmed the party’s strong presence in the state, expressing confidence in its success in the upcoming local government elections. He indicated that the PDP would pursue legal action if it faced any unjust denial of victory.
In a message of support, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, encouraged PDP members to turn out in large numbers to vote for their candidates, emphasizing that the upcoming elections would be genuine elections rather than mere selections, as assured by the Benue State Independent Election Commission (BSIEC).
Additionally, Engr. Dondo Ahire, Mike Uba, and Alex Ogaba, representing the three senatorial districts, echoed similar sentiments in their goodwill messages, collectively urging party unity to ensure a successful outcome in the local government elections.
Meanwhile, the Abia State chapter of the Labour Party (LP), ahead of the November 2 Local Government election in the state, has urged the public to disregard an announcement by the party’s former chairman, Ceekay Igara, regarding the sale of nomination forms.
The party’s acting chairman in the state, Emmanuel Otti, in a statement released on Wednesday, urged party members to obtain their nomination forms from the Labour Party secretariat in Umuahia, the state capital.
Otti emphasized that all official statements or instructions concerning the party’s activities in the state must come from the Caretaker Committee.
He added that any contrary information should be regarded as an act of impersonation and reported to the appropriate authorities.
The statement read, “The attention of the Labour Party, Abia State chapter has been drawn to a radio announcement issued by the former chairman of the Labour Party in the state, Mr. Ceekay Igara directing members of the public on where to purchase nomination forms for the Party’s Primaries ahead of the forthcoming Local Government Election in the state.
“The public is hereby enjoined to disregard the unauthorised and misleading announcement because Mr Igara’s tenure had expired alongside other members of the state and National Working Committees led by Julius Abure, which prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission to cease to recognise them. It is on this basis that the party set up a National Caretaker Committee chaired by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman.
“The Labour Party in Abia State is not interested in extorting members of the public nor obtaining money from them by trick, hence we are poised to ensure that the sale of forms and selection of candidates is done in a responsible, orderly and peaceful manner to ensure that peace reigns even after the exercise.”