Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom appealed on Tuesday to anyone he may have offended during his tenure, asking for forgiveness. He announced his decision to withdraw the case he had filed with the Election Petition Tribunal, where he was challenging the victory of senator‑elect Titus Zam of Benue North West Senatorial District in the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.
Governor Ortom’s senatorial ambition was thwarted on February 25 when he lost to his former aide, Zam. After the defeat, Ortom said he would contest the result in court, citing what he described as non‑transmission of results. However, speaking to journalists after meeting constituency stakeholders and members of his campaign council at the Government House in Makurdi, Ortom said he had decided to pull his case from the tribunal. “Though there was glaring evidence of malpractices, including non‑transmission of results electronically during the conduct of the Benue North West senatorial election, I have taken the decision to withdraw my case from the tribunal,” he explained.
He added that the withdrawal was made in the interest of peace and would not prejudice suits filed by other PDP candidates. “As a leader of the PDP, I will continue to support the party in collaboration with other leaders to enable it to bounce back from the mistakes and drawbacks that are affecting it at the moment,” he affirmed.
The governor reassured the people of Benue that he will continue to serve selflessly in all sectors of development until the end of his tenure on May 29, 2023. He made a heartfelt appeal: “For those I might have offended in this journey of serving the state and our country, I seek their forgiveness as I also forgive those who have offended me.” He praised the resilience of Benue’s citizens for their massive participation in the recent elections despite what he described as “glaring provocation and intimidation by the federal might,” and thanked the state PDP for its unwavering support.
Concluding, Ortom said it had been an honour to serve the people of Benue State, emphasizing his commitment to equity, fairness, justice, and the rule of law. He affirmed that he has executed the mandate given to him by God through the Benue people and will remain ready to carry out God’s directive whenever called upon.
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