Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Benue North-West, Dr. Eunice Ortom, on Monday continued her consultations in Buruku Local Government Area, receiving royal blessings, consoling boat operators over a recent mishap, and engaging party stakeholders and community groups as she seeks support ahead of the official flag-off of her 2027 senatorial campaign.
The engagements provided an opportunity for Dr. Eunice Ortom to present her aspirations to the traditional institution, interact with grassroots constituencies and outline her priorities for the people of Zone B, comprising Gboko, Tarka, Buruku, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer East and Gwer West.
At the Buruku Traditional Council, Dr. Eunice Ortom sought the permission and blessings of the royal fathers, explaining that her decision to contest followed calls from the people and the micro-zoning of the senatorial seat to the Nongov axis, where she was adopted as the PDP consensus candidate.
She highlighted her years of service in the civil service, from which she retired at the directorate cadre, noting that her administrative experience had equipped her with an understanding of institutional processes and the responsibilities associated with public office. She also recalled her service as Benue State focal person on HIV/AIDS control and the establishment of the Eunice Spring of Life Foundation, through which she had worked with international organisations to mobilise support for health and other developmental interventions.
Dr. Eunice Ortom identified education, healthcare, agriculture, job creation and security as priority areas, pledging to work towards ensuring that the needs of the senatorial district receive appropriate attention in national development planning and budgetary allocations.
Responding, Ortar Mbawuadi, Chief Terlumun Kaior, Tyoor Mba’akura; Chief Zer Ager, Mue Ter Tombo; Chief Jack Gbaa, represented by Tyoor Mbiniv, Chief Dennis Nyitse; and Mue Ter Mbanyam, Chief Tivfa Adingi, welcomed her visit and acknowledged her record of service. They commended her for personally approaching the traditional institution to explain her ambition and seek its blessings, describing her as a daughter whose royal background and contributions deserved their encouragement.
The Ter Buruku, HRH Chief Moses Ihyomve Haanior, urged leaders to leave behind records of service that justify the confidence reposed in them. He acknowledged Dr. Ortom’s contributions during her tenure as First Lady of Benue State and advocated greater inclusion of women in leadership, noting their potential contributions to peacebuilding and societal development. He also urged her supporters to remain steadfast and sincere in their commitment to the development of Zone B.
Continuing her engagements at River Buruku, the PDP candidate visited the Boat Operators Association to commiserate with its members over a boat mishap that occurred in the area. She expressed sympathy with the operators and affected families of other communities, acknowledging the pain of losing loved ones in the course of daily activities and the difficulties such tragedies bring to families dependent on the river transportation business for their livelihoods.
She encouraged the boat operators not to lose heart but to remain resilient in their efforts to earn a living and provide transportation services to their communities. She also reiterated her commitment to pursuing opportunities for young people through employment, business support and skills acquisition, stressing that economic empowerment was essential to improving livelihoods and promoting financial stability.
Speaking on behalf of the association, Mr. Oryina Iorngulum thanked Dr. Eunice Ortom for identifying with the operators in their moment of grief, observing that the visit demonstrated concern for a group whose difficulties, he said, had not received sufficient attention. He assured her that the gesture would not be taken for granted, expressing the association’s readiness to support her aspiration in the January 16, 2027 election.
The Director-General of the Dr. Eunice Ortom Campaign Organization, Hon. Ortese Gbegi, commended the boat operators for their contribution to the transportation needs and livelihoods of the people. He conveyed the solidarity and prayers of the PDP family, while expressing hope that improved opportunities would strengthen their businesses and living conditions.
Dr. Eunice Ortom also met with party stakeholders, elders, students, persons with special needs, widows and other community representatives, urging them to support her candidacy alongside other PDP candidates. She explained that having representatives working together across different levels of government would help promote coordinated development and improve the delivery of democratic dividends to the people.
She specifically called for support for Hon. Dominic Ikyaagba, Hon. Terkimbi Laha Dzever, Hon. Timothy Manger and Chief Mike Aondoakaa, SAN, noting that cooperation among elected representatives would help advance the collective interests of the people.
Speaking for the students, Comrade Azenda Lubem Nathan, National President of Buruku Students, highlighted young people’s concerns, particularly the need for employment opportunities and an enabling environment for graduates to contribute meaningfully to society.
Mr. Igbatoo Solomon, who spoke on behalf of persons with special needs, and Mrs. Hembadoon Yongobee, representing widows, also called for inclusive development and greater attention to vulnerable groups. They lamented the limited employment opportunities available to qualified individuals and urged Dr. Eunice Ortom to sustain her interest in constituencies whose concerns, they said, were often overlooked. They pledged their prayers and support for her aspiration.
Elder Shirga Swande, representing Dr. Laha Dzever, commended the candidate for visiting Buruku to familiarise herself with the people before the formal commencement of campaigns. He conveyed Dzever’s apologies for his absence due to pressing engagements and assured her of the support of the elders’ forum.
Similarly, Elder Samuel Akende Ubura affirmed the readiness of stakeholders in Buruku to mobilise support for PDP candidates, expressing optimism about the party’s prospects in the forthcoming elections.
The PDP candidates at the gathering, Hon. Dominic Ikyaagba, Hon. Terkimbi Laha Dzever and Hon. Timothy Manger, described Dr. Ortom’s candidacy as the collective choice of the Minda people, who they said were expected to produce the next senator from the district. They pledged to work towards the realisation of her ambition and the success of the party’s candidates.
In a significant show of cross-party support, members of other political identified with the candidacy of Dr. Eunice Ortom stress the need for capable hands to be elected to attract dividends of democracy to the people.They said they are convinced by her candidacy given the sagacious stand of the former Benue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, during that period enemies of the state wanted to take over our land ,which they believed she played a significant role of supporting the husband.
They expressed optimism that her election would create opportunities for meaningful contributions to national development through the National Assembly, adding that supporting her was, in their view, a way of drawing quality representation to the people.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the campaign organization, Hon. Ortese Gbegi, thanked party faithful and community stakeholders for their participation and urged them to intensify grassroots mobilisation in support of the PDP and its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections. He also called for peaceful political engagement, urging supporters to avoid violence and continue praying for the success of the candidates.