With the recent lifting of ban on political campaigns by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) for political aspirants to commence campaign for various political offices of their choice, political activities have heightened in Benue State. Already, those aspiring to various political offices in the state on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party have intensified compliance with the party’s guidelines as spelt out and released by the National Working Committee. Halidays Resort, venue for the screening of both senatorial and House of Representatives contenders, was besieged by aspirants who trooped out to be screened by the committee.
Prominent among the aspirants who graced the screening exercise were the state governor, Gabriel Suswam who is battle-ready to wrest power from the former national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party and the incumbent senator representing Benue North-East senatorial district, Barnabas Gemade; the former speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Terseer Tsumba, who is challenging the senate minority leader, George Akume, representing Benue North-West senatorial District.
Others were the immediate past commissioner for Lands and Survey, John Tondo, who wants to represent Makurdi/Guma federal Constituency presently occupied by one of the governorship aspirants in the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Emmanuel Jime; Dickson Tarkighir also aspiring for Makurdi Guma federal constituency; John Tion, a former chairman of Gwer West Local Government Council and current Special Adviser to Vice President on Projects challenge Christiana Alaaga, representing Gwer/Gwer-West federal constituency.
Interacting with journalists shortly after the screening, Suswam told journalists that he will prioritise welfare of his constituents if elected and promised that he will leave no stone unturned to secure his victory while the former speaker Terseer Tsumba, said he was satisfied with the conduct of the screening exercise. “Yeah, it was done quite freely and frankly and I am quite satisfied with the manner in which they are handling the affair. I think it was quite fair and transparent,” he said.
The immediate past Commissioner for Lands and Survey, John Tondo on his part said: “It was a wonderful experience and there was a lot of transparency in the exercise, they were friendly, very, very friendly”. On the hurdles ahead, Tondo said: “As a human being, you can only do your best and leave the rest to God. I am putting in all the structures by my side and I am believing that with God by my side, we are going to come out victorious, again; I also know that what I am aspiring for is to be a legislator and I know exactly the functions of a legislator, so I am not going to tell you that this is what am going to do, but I am going to do justice to the functions of a legislator which is principally that of making laws,” Tondo added.
Dickson Tarkighir also jostling for Makurdi/Guma federal seat on his part on how he intends to surmount his electoral challenges said: “A contest in any election is a win or lose situation and so if you are going into any contest, it is either you are going to win or lose. Some of us believe that in a democracy, that is the norm; so I am prepared for what comes out,” Tarkighir declared.
Meanwhile, majority of the aspirants who were screened by the committee including Emmanuel Udende representing Ukum/Katsina-Ala/Logo, Benjamin Aboho, Kwande /Ushongo, Christiana Alaaga Gwer/Gwer West and former commissioner for works and housing in the state, Mnena Shija, declined comments.
BARNES AGIRIGI
