Ortom, who contested under the platform of PDP, lost the Benue North-West senatorial election to his former aide, Zam, who contested under APC
By Kehinde Okeowo
Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has said he is currently reviewing the result of the Benue North-West senatorial election to know his next line of action.
Ortom, who contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lost the senatorial election to his former aide, Titus Zam of the All Progressives Congress, APC
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the governor polled 106,882 votes, while the winner, Zam scored 143,151 votes.
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The results were announced in Makurdi, the state capital by the Senatorial Collation Officer, Prof. Rufus Shaa’to, who also said Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mark Gbillah garnered 51,950 votes.
Reacting to the defeat, the governor in a terse statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser, Media & Publicity, Terver Akase, said he has received the official results and that they would be scrutinized
He said: “His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom has received the result of the 2023 Benue North West Senatorial election. He will study the result and respond appropriately”.
Ortom is a member of the G5 group of PDP governors opposed to their party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. He will exit office as the governor of the state on 29 May this year after his two terms in office.