By Peter Duru

MAKURDI—After much horse-trading among leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. John Ngbede has been selected as the running mate of the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Terhemen Tarzoor.

Vanguard gathered yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, that Ngbede who is from Agatu Local Government Area of the state emerged the preferred candidate after an intense political horse trading between Governor Gabriel Suswam, his deputy, Chief Steven Lawani and the Senate President, David Mark.

His nomination has finally put to rest, several weeks of lobbying by top PDP leaders who had presented their individual candidates for consideration ahead of the 2015 elections.

Ngbede came to political limelight during the George Akume administration where he served as a Special Adviser on Assembly Matters.

He was later appointed the Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment before serving in his present capacity in the Governor Gabriel Suswam’s administration.

He is expected to be presented to the PDP stakeholders in the state after his documentation at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, next week.

Reacting to the development, the Secretary to the Benue State Government, SSG, Dr. David Salifu said “it is a welcome development for the people of Apa/Agatu because he is a politician who possesses the political clout to mobilize support for the PDP in the state.”