Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Benue North-West Senatorial District, Dr. Mrs. Eunice Erdoo Ortom, has sought the blessings of the Makurdi Local Government Traditional Council as she continues consultations with stakeholders ahead of the January 16, 2027, general elections.
Dr. Ortom made the visit to the traditional hall of the council, where she met with the Ter Makurdi and Chairman of the Makurdi Local Government Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Chief Vincent Ioryem Aule, alongside other traditional rulers and community leaders.
Briefing the council on the purpose of the visit, the Director-General of the Eunice Ortom Campaign Organisation, Hon. Ortese Gbegi, said the engagement was intended to formally inform the traditional institution of Dr. Ortom’s senatorial ambition and seek its blessings and support.
He explained that the Minda PDP family had adopted Dr. Ortom as its candidate in line with the principles of equity and fairness, which, he said, informed the understanding that it was the turn of the Nongov people to produce the next senator for the district.
Supporting the position, Hon. Bernard Unenge, Dr. Emmanuel Shior, Barr. Ambrose Ikpa, Hon. Dickson Igbe, Hon. Titus Nomji and Mrs. Eunice Torbunde, who served during the administration of former Governor Chief Samuel Ortom, acknowledged Dr. Ortom’s contributions to their lives and public service.
They described her as a capable candidate with the experience and leadership qualities required to represent the district effectively at the National Assembly. They urged the traditional rulers to support their daughter, expressing confidence that she would provide inclusive representation in which all groups would have a voice in decision-making.
Speaking during the engagement, Dr. Ortom commended the traditional rulers for their continued contributions to community development and the preservation of peace among people of diverse backgrounds.
She said she had come to seek their royal blessings as she pursued her ambition to represent Benue North-West Senatorial District, urging them to continue upholding truth and guiding the people towards choosing leaders who would serve the collective interests of their communities.
The senatorial candidate advocated greater inclusion of women in leadership, saying that women possessed the capacity and experience to contribute meaningfully to governance and development. Drawing from women’s responsibilities in family life, she stressed that their ability to nurture and manage competing needs positioned them to make valuable contributions to public leadership.
She also pledged to bring her experience in public service and development management to bear on the district’s development, with particular attention to education, agriculture, job creation and security. She added that effective representation would require identifying areas where legislative interventions and partnerships could complement government efforts to address the needs of the people.
Dr. Ortom further urged traditional rulers to encourage greater participation of women in leadership, noting that capable women should be given opportunities to join hands with the traditional institutions yo contribute to the development of their communities.
Responding, the traditional rulers commended Dr. Ortom’s leadership record and called for greater inclusion of women in governance. Chief James Aba, speaking on behalf of the kindred heads, urged her to maintain regular consultations with traditional rulers and incorporate their contributions into decision-making if elected. The District Head of Genabe, Chief Jonathan Adeke JP, particularly emphasised that women should not be confined to domestic responsibilities but given opportunities to contribute to leadership and development. Citing the role his daughter had played in supporting her siblings, he argued that women had demonstrated their capacity to contribute meaningfully to family welfare and society at large.
The District Head of Ugondo, Chief Justine Ihwakar JP, cited the establishment of a hospital and an educational institution in his community as evidence of Dr. Ortom’s developmental contributions. Similarly, the Mue Ter Masev, HRH Chief Clement Kulugh JP, commended her peaceful, issue-based campaign, while the Mue Ter Ihyarev, HRH Chief Simon Ajoh, recalled her inclusive disposition and contributions to the welfare of the people during her tenure as First Lady, expressing confidence that her record of service would strengthen her senatorial ambition.
The Ter Makurdi and Chairman of the Makurdi Local Government Traditional Council, HRH Chief Vincent Ioryem Aule, described Dr. Ortom as his daughter who had demonstrated her capacity to serve and assist others over the years, even before considering elective office.
He praised her commitment to finding solutions to people’s problems and urged her to sustain her peaceful campaign, avoid insults and violence, and continue engaging the electorate with dignity and respect.