Contrary to the earlier information about Hon. Emmanuel Jime, the APC challenger in the governorship contest in Benue State congratulating the incumbent, there has been no such gesture. Instead, Barrister Emmanuel Jime’s sources are giving strong hints about going to court to challenge the victory of Governor Samuel Ortom.
An agent of Hon Jime who was accosted before he entered his car and drove away from the announcement centre in Makurdi earlier this afternoon said categorically that the result could not stand. Although it was not a press conference but neither was it a confidential conversation but an open expression of disgust by a lawyer who has held a very high political office in the state before.
At issue are allegations of thuggery in areas considered to be APC strong holds in Benue State, snatching of ballot boxes and the shooting of collation officers, two of whom are still in hospital; alleged over voting; inducement of voters otherwise called vote-buying.
This hint goes contrary to the expectation that it would have been possible for a process of reconciliation to start if the earlier report of Hon Jime congratulating Dr. Ortom had been the case. Now, it is clear that was fake news given the vehemence that Jime’s agent exhibited over the result at the venue of the declaration of the final result.
