By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Former Media Aide to the immediate past Governor of Benue state, Mr. Paul Tion has appealed to elders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to support his chairmanship aspiration.

Mr. Tion who is gunning for the Chairmanship of the PDP in Makurdi Local Government Area, LGA, made the call when he addressed the leaders from the Isherev, Tyoshin Ugondo and Uke communities in Makurdi to intimate them of his aspiration.

He said he was in the race because he had learnt from the leaders and stakeholders and was knowledgeable enough and well prepared to offer purposeful leadership that would transform and reposition the PDP for electoral victories.

He said, “I have gathered enough knowledge and experience from our leaders and stakeholders and I am well prepared for the task and the party at this time requires a person of sterling quality like me to lead it in Makurdi.”

Addressing the gathering, leader of Jechira block of Ipusu community, Terzungwe Usu, represented by Fada Alom said the aspirant was qualified to vie for the position.

PDP Ex- Officio member, Mrs. Susan Akisa gave her nod to Tion’s aspirantion describing him as “someone who has demonstrated capacity for leadership at all times and I am sure he will deliver on this one too.”

Leader of the Isherev block, John Akombo  said he was just affirming the decision of the party that zoned the election to  Ipusu and was only waiting to receive the choice of Ipusu.

While noting that the aspirant was endowed with leadership qualities he advised him to visit the Isherev enclave as a dominant block in Makurdi to interface with them.

Speaking for Tyoshin block on the directive of the leader Tsekaa Tar, Christopher Senev noted that since the seat was zoned to the Ipusu block the aspirant was qualified to run.
The Caucus Chairman of  Makurdi, LGA Senator Fred Orti who doubles as leader of Ugondo block spoke in dual capacity noting that PDP Chairmanship position in Makurdi LGA had been rotational and as such it remained strictly so and respected by all.

He urged the aspirant to note that he was running for an elective office, emphasising that in the recent past, PDP Congresses and primary elections though elective had been more or less by consensus which ensured rancour free and less stressful process “but in the event consensus cannot be reached it will go to election.”

The LG Ghairman of the Party, Yunusa Garba noted that the aspirant was eminently qualified to run for the position given his wealth of experience and personality stressing that “for the first time in recent past about six aspirants bought forms for a party elective office which is what democracy is all about.”