Ushongo local government chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, Mr Abraham Soo, has enjoined APC members and supporters to refrain from any act that would prevent them from voting at the forthcoming polls.
He spoke at Akerior in Utange council ward during a meeting held to integrate those who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the APC.
Mr Soo stated that sensing imminent defeat at the polls the ruling party had resorted to provocative acts such as the destruction of the opposition party’s campaign property so as to deliberately draw its members into conflict in order to use its power of incumbency to arrest and incarcerate as many of them as possible and enjoined them to avoid falling into such a trap.
According to the chairman what mattered most was the ability to exercise one’s franchise stressing that all those who wished to effect change must therefore obtain and secure their permanent voters cards so as to be able to personally use it on election day.
He said all APC candidates in this year’s elections were well known politicians who had endeared themselves to the people over the years such that they know and love them adding that although their posters and billboards may be destroyed they remained engraved on the hearts of the majority of the people who are determined to vote for them.
Also speaking at the occasion, Media Director of the Ortom/Abounu Governorship Campaign Organization, Mr Tahav Agerzua, stated that there were visible signs of an impending change of leadership in the country and urged the people to be part of the wind blowing across Nigeria.
He listed inept administration by the ruling party at all levels, the merger of major opposition parties in the country into one strong force, PDP’S loss of prominent stalwarts including founding fathers, governors and members of the National Assembly as well as the yearnings for change as indications that the party had lost out.
Others who spoke including Tyotsugh Taangahar, Azenda Orlu, Joseph Kile, Aondowase Yawe, Mom Aule, James Agerzua, Adaashi and Mrs Ninga enjoined the people to work for APC victory, particularly that of its governorship candidate, Chief Dr Samuel Ortom, at the polls.
Utange ward chairman, Mr Kwen Dagi, assured that new and old members of the party had the same rights and privileges and enjoined all to ensure discipline and success at the forthcoming elections.
A women group, Ortom mothers, decorated Mr Tahav Agerzua in Tiv traditional attire as a demonstration of what they described as his role in promoting the governorship aspiration of Chief Dr Ortom who they said was a friend of the community.