Rose Ejembi, Makurdi

The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Benue State, has unanimously adopted Barr. Emmanuel Jime, Director General Nigeria Export Protection Zone Authority, (NEPZA) as its governorship candidate for the 2019 general election.

Jime emerged the standard flagbearer of the party, through a consensus and affirmative votes from other aspirants, party leaders and delegates after almost two days of deliberations and political horse trading.

Five aspirants including Akange Audu, Mike Mku, Asema Achadu, Titus Zam and Benjamin Adanyi were initially billed to slug it out at the primary election but that was later dropped as leaders of the party eventually agreed for the party to produce a consensus candidate.

All the other four aspirants, after a long deliberation, agreed to withdraw from the contest and mandated one of them, Akange Audu to announce their decision.

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Audu while announcing their decision to step down for Jime said they were doing so in view of the commitment and good leadership style of the leader of the party in the state, Sen. George Akume.

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“We have unanimously agreed to concede to Emmanuel Jime and we would give all our support to him to ensure his victory at the polls come 2019”, Audu stated.

Remarking, leader of the party in the state, Senator George Akume thanked the aspirants for the unanimous decision assuring that the party will be victorious in next year’s general elections.

Earlier in his speech, Chairman Electoral Committee for Benue APC governorship election, Mr. Mutiu Are commanded the aspirants, State party leaders and the delegates for conducting them in an orderly manner which resulted in a peaceful and transparent process of the primary.

Jime in his acceptance speech stated that the consensus decision was a privilege and a mandate for him to free Benue from the shackles of underdevelopment.

He, however, called all stakeholders of the party to be united posting that with unity, they would be able to succeed in the rescue mission for the growth and betterment of the state.

“My journey has just began and I will embark on campaign of issues not of insult, violence and desperation because service to the people is not by force.”