Senatorial poll: Ortom withdraws case against APC Senator-elect

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has withdrawn his case against the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Titus Zam, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Election Tribunal.

Zam garnered 143,151 votes to beat Ortom who polled 106,882 votes to win the Benue North-West senatorial seat at the February 25 National Assembly election.

Ortom stated this after meeting with Benue State Executive Council members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Zone B and his Senatorial Campaign Council in Makurdi, the state capital, on Tuesday.

The governor said he decided to withdraw the petition for the sake of peace in spite of glaring electoral malpractices.

He said: “Though there was glaring evidence of malpractices including non-transmission of results electronically during the conduct of the election, I have taken the decision to withdraw my case from the tribunal.

“As the Bible says in John 3:27 ‘A man can receive nothing, except it is given to him from heaven’.

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“Let me add that the decision to withdraw my case from the court is in the interest of peace and without prejudice to the suits filed by other candidates of our party, PDP.”

Governor Ortom further promised that as a leader of PDP, he would support the party in collaboration with other leaders to enable it to bounce back from the mistakes and drawbacks affecting it at the moment.

Ortom reassured the people of Benue State that he would continue to provide selfless service in all sectors of development till the end of his tenure on May 29, 2023.

“For those I might have offended in this journey of serving the state and our country, I seek your forgiveness, as I also forgive those who have offended me,” the governor added.

He, however, commended the people of Benue State for their resilience, stressing that they went out to vote during the elections despite the glaring provocation and intimidation by the federal might.

Governor Ortom said that he particularly thanked the PDP in the state for its support, adding that it had been an honour to serve the people of the state as governor.

“Within this period, I have executed the mandate given to me by God almighty through Benue people and I will always be available and ready to carry out God’s mandate as He directs me.

“In the course of serving the state, I have always ensured equity, fairness, justice, and the rule of law,” Ortom stated.

The Star