ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday declared his decision to withdraw the case he instituted at the election petition tribunal where he was challenging the victory of the senator elect of the Benue North West senatorial district, Titus Zam in the 25 February presidential and National Assembly elections.
Governor Ortom also appealed to those he may have offended in the course of his service as governor of the state to forgive him.
Recall that the senatorial aspiration of the Governor was dashed following his defeat in the 25 February primaries when he lost to his former aide, Titus Zam.
Reacting to his loss, he had challenged the outcome of the election in court hinging his decision on what he described as non-transmission of results.
However, while addressing journalists on Tuesday after meeting with stakeholders from his constituency and members of his campaign council at government house in Makurdi, Ortom said that he had decided to withdraw his case at 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 said.
Ortom said that the decision to withdraw his case from the court was in the interest of peace and without prejudice to the suits filed by other candidates of his party, the PDP.
“As a leader of 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 added.
The governor however reassured the people of the state that he will continue to provide selfless service in all sectors of development till the end of his tenure on 29 May, 2023.
He however begged those he has offended to forgive him, saying: “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.”
The governor commended the resilience of the people of the state for participating massively in the just concluded elections despite what he described as ‘glaring provocation and intimidation by the federal might’ and also appreciated the Peoples Democratic Party in the state for supporting him all the way.
He said it had been an honour to serve the people of Benue State as governor. He further said he always ensured equity, fairness, justice and the rule of law and had executed the mandate given to him by God almighty through Benue people.