Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom
Do not postpone 2023 polls, Ortom tells INEC
Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom has thrown his weight behind recent calls to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to postpone the forthcoming General Elections billed to kick off from February.
INEC had earlier mooted plans to shift the 2023 general elections over rising insecurity across the country.
Governor Ortom who made the latest call when he paid a visit to the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in charge of Benue State, Professor Sam Egwu at the INEC headquarters in Makurdi, noted that the skepticism that has arisen following a statement, purported to have emanated from INEC about fears of insecurity ahead of 2023 should be discountenanced.
“Our prayer is that whatever happens let us go ahead and conduct the elections because Nigerians and Benue State people are eagerly waiting for it. Let us not create a situation where enemies of this country will take advantage. This election must be conducted,” he stressed.
“In my little way of suggesting and helping INEC and of course the Federal Government, if there are specific areas where insecurity is intense and there are problems, they should work towards shifting the elections not postponing the elections and when the other places are completed, they can go back and complete it and announce results.”
The Governor said the Benue people desire to ensure that the electoral umpire should ensure compliance with the rules of engagement to guarantee fair play, equity, justice and fairness for all.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Sam Egwu stated that although the collection of PVC at the ward level would end on Sunday, the process would continue at the Local Government level till a few days before the elections.
He commended the Governor for ensuring a level playing field for all political parties in the state, noting that he has not heard any single incident of the opposition being denied the opportunity to reach out to their supporters.
The REC told the Governor that the Commission was working assiduously to ensure that people who have been displaced and were living in Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs camps across the state with their PVCs were allowed to participate in the elections.
It would also be recalled that the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had earlier, Friday, called on INEC to maintain the February 25, 2023 date for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, stated this during his first interactive session with the party’s Press Corps, Friday in Abuja.
“The February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly election date is sacrosanct. February 25, 2023 date is already locked in for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the security agencies have given their assurances, the Federal Government has also given its assurance; Nigerians are ready for election and will not accept any postponement of elections under any guise whatsoever,” Ologunagba said.
PDP, therefore, charged INEC, as an independent institution not to succumb to the pressure from any quarters but focus on its preparations and fix its eyes on delivering a free, fair, transparent and credible election on February 25, 2023.
The publicity secretary also called on security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities adding that “Nigerians are eager to vote on February 25, 2023” and that “Atiku Abubakar is poised to win the majority of votes cast across the country and secure 25% in all the States of the Federation to emerge President on the very first ballot.
“Those trying to push the run-off narrative or postponement of elections should perish the thought. They should get ready for elections or quit the race” he declared.
