L'Ortom denounces the destruction of PDP billboards
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Saturday condemned the destruction of campaign billboards mounted by the People's Democratic Party in parts of Gboko.
Some thugs on Friday pulled down Ortom's campaign billboards that were planted in strategic places in the city of Gboko.
Some of the destroyed billboards had no pictures of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, but were adorned with pictures of the governor as senatorial candidate, and Titus Uba - the party's candidate for governor.
Gboko is the political seat of the Tiv people where the national president of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu is from.
Condemning the act, Governor Ortom said he was capable of triggering an avoidable crisis in the region and urged caution from party supporters.
In the statement released by his special adviser on media and publicity, Terver Akase, the governor noted that no individual or group has the right to remove campaign materials from political opponents, regardless of circumstances.
The governor said that democracy guarantees freedom of participation for all and that no individual has the constitutional power to intimidate or harass others.
"He (Ortom) says that the introduction of electronic voting has strengthened the country's electoral system and that anyone confident of their chances at the polls should solicit votes among the people rather than attacking other candidates.< /p>
"Governor Ortom urges security officers to investigate the incidents in Gboko and bring those responsible to justice, in order to deter others.
But in a quick reaction, the Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the media aide to All Progressives Congress gubernatorial candidate Kula Tersoo, who exonerated the opposition party, called the destruction of the signs a display of "PDP family affair".
Tersoo said that the PDP should look inside and investigate the matter, adding that the information available to them indicated that the destruction was carried out by their members who felt wronged that the photos of Atiku were not not on these billboards.
“Go to Yandev roundabout, you will see that the billboards which displayed pictures of their presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, are standing.
"You ask them (PDP) if anything happens to their billboards in other areas where they campaigned such as; Vandeikya, Logo, Katsina-Ala and others; but Gboko is the Senator Iyorchia Ayu's house and I read a message from one of the PDP members who is from there, who said that any billboard without Atiku would be taken down."
Tersoo added, "So count us (APC) out of their internal crisis."
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Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Saturday condemned the destruction of campaign billboards mounted by the People's Democratic Party in parts of Gboko.
Some thugs on Friday pulled down Ortom's campaign billboards that were planted in strategic places in the city of Gboko.
Some of the destroyed billboards had no pictures of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, but were adorned with pictures of the governor as senatorial candidate, and Titus Uba - the party's candidate for governor.
Gboko is the political seat of the Tiv people where the national president of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu is from.
Condemning the act, Governor Ortom said he was capable of triggering an avoidable crisis in the region and urged caution from party supporters.
In the statement released by his special adviser on media and publicity, Terver Akase, the governor noted that no individual or group has the right to remove campaign materials from political opponents, regardless of circumstances.
The governor said that democracy guarantees freedom of participation for all and that no individual has the constitutional power to intimidate or harass others.
"He (Ortom) says that the introduction of electronic voting has strengthened the country's electoral system and that anyone confident of their chances at the polls should solicit votes among the people rather than attacking other candidates.< /p>
"Governor Ortom urges security officers to investigate the incidents in Gboko and bring those responsible to justice, in order to deter others.
But in a quick reaction, the Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the media aide to All Progressives Congress gubernatorial candidate Kula Tersoo, who exonerated the opposition party, called the destruction of the signs a display of "PDP family affair".
Tersoo said that the PDP should look inside and investigate the matter, adding that the information available to them indicated that the destruction was carried out by their members who felt wronged that the photos of Atiku were not not on these billboards.
“Go to Yandev roundabout, you will see that the billboards which displayed pictures of their presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, are standing.
"You ask them (PDP) if anything happens to their billboards in other areas where they campaigned such as; Vandeikya, Logo, Katsina-Ala and others; but Gboko is the Senator Iyorchia Ayu's house and I read a message from one of the PDP members who is from there, who said that any billboard without Atiku would be taken down."
Tersoo added, "So count us (APC) out of their internal crisis."
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