A former Managing Director of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Mr Emmanuel Jime, yesterday emerged winner of the APC governorship ticket for the 2019 general elections in Benue State.
Jime, the APC flag bearer emerged through a consensus arrangement among five other aspirants in the race who stepped down to allow him fly the party’s flag.
Jime emerged after several days of meetings which made the primaries originally slated for Sunday not to hold.
The other aspirants who stepped down include Chief Akange Audu; Asema Achado; Michael Iordye; former aide to Governor Samuel Ortom, Titus Zam and former House of Assembly Majority Leader, Benjamin Adanyi, said it was in the interest of the party.
According to them, they would want to work together to reclaim Benue for APC come 2019 general elections.
Speaking to newsmen, Akange Audu said they all voluntarily stepped down and signed an agreement before the leader of the party in the state and other party stalwarts to allow Jime emerge the party’s flag bearer.
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Chairman of the electoral panel for APC governorship primaries in the state, Mr. Mutiu Are, who conducted the polls by affirmation, therefore, asked those who were in support of Jime’s candidature to affirm by voice vote.
Are declared Jime winner after the affirmation of the “Yes” votes saying “the ayes have it.”
The leader of APC in the state, Sen. George Akume commended the aspirants for their endorsement of Jime as their candidate saying with his emergence, the party would surely reclaim power from the PDP come 2019.
Accepting his victory, Jime thanked fellow aspirants, leaders, and delegates for their sacrifices and called on them to help him deliver the onerous task ahead.
He pledged to rescue Benue from the clutches of underdevelopment and poverty.
While he lamented that the sacrifices of the founding fathers of Benue were being mortgaged by politicians without foresight, Jime said with the support of the party, he would tackle the development challenges confronting the state especially by providing security and welfare to all citizens.
Jime solicited the support of all party members to enable him redeem the state.
He assured that he would run an issue-based campaign devoid of bitterness and desperation.
