Ortom: Why I withdrew petition challenging my defeat at senatorial poll

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, says he accepted defeat at the February 25 national assembly poll because he does not want to “stress” the people of the state.

Ortom was defeated by Titus Zam of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Benue north-west senatorial election.

The governor had initially vowed to challenge the outcome at the election tribunal, claiming that he was  “clinically and electronically” rigged out.

A few days later, Ortom withdrew his petition against the election result.

Addressing the development in a chat with Arise TV on Friday, the Benue governor claimed that he had “glaring evidence” of malfeasance but decided against challenging the result.

Ortom added that Benue people had gone through enough “trauma” and he did not want to add to their ordeal.

“My losing the senatorial bid does not really matter to me,” the governor said.

“Initially, I filed the suit. But I had to withdraw it because of peace. Especially for Benue state. The kind of trauma that my people have gone through, with two million people in IDP camps and people running here and there.

“Poverty is all over the place. Why should I get myself involved in stressing our people up? I decided to withdraw the case, irrespective of the evidence that I have.”