PDP caucus bars Mark’s ‘kinsmen’ from Benue gov race

The Elders’ Caucus in Benue south west senatorial zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says former Niger Delta minster, Sam Odeh, and Mr Harris Ogbole cannot contest the governorship primaries of the party because they hail from Otukpo, home of Senate President David Mark.

According to NAN, Odeh and Ogbole, a lawyer, were excluded from the contest, following the unanimous endorsement of Mark for another term in the senate.

At a meeting in Otukpo, the caucus also urged the remaining aspirants in the race to harmonise their positions and present a formidable candidate who would challenge aspirants from the other zones of the state.

Stakeholders in attendance resolved that since Mark hailed from Otukpo alongside the other two, it was inappropriate for them to contest for the governorship ticket of the party with aspirants from other local governments.

The elders maintained that Otukpo had represented the zone in the National Assembly for past 16 years, so the recent endorsement meant the local government would be representing the zone for 20 years.

Following the exclusion of Odeh and Ogbole, Mrs Ada Chenge, the managing director of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRBDA), will contest with Steve Lawani, the incumbent deputy governor.

The meeting, which was presided over by Major-General Geoffrey Ejiga (Rtd), gave the remaining contestants one week to present one person as the aspirant representing the zone at the November primary.

The zone comprises nine local government areas and has the second largest ethnic group in the state.