by Benue guber: Labour Party has nothing to do with PDP – Hembe
From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Ahead of the Saturday Governorship and State Assembly elections, the candidate of Labour Party, (LP), in Benue state, Herman Hembe, has denied joining with Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and or stepping down for its candidate, Titus Uba saying he and his party has nothing to do with him.
Hembe was responding to “media announcements sponsored by the PDP in Benue, claiming that I, Rt. Hon Herman Hembe, the Benue Labour Party Gubernatorial candidate have stepped down or merged with PDP.”
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom, Nathaniel Ikyur, had in a statement, disclosed that the Benue State wing of Labour Party has endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Titus Uba.
According to him, in separate ceremony at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, the State Chairman of Labour Party, Engr Ibrahim Otene said the decision of the party to support Uba to win the governorship election was sequel to the collaboration the presidential candidate of the party, Mr Peter Obi received from the PDP in the state.
Otene, who was accompanied by members of the State Working Committee of the Labour Party, stated that their action was a directive from the National Secretariat of the party and meant to reciprocate the support Governor Samuel Ortom gave to their presidential candidate.
He said the Governor stood for equity, fairness and justice, and even risked his senatorial ambition for the Obi presidential bid.
The Benue State Labour Chairman, during their visit, commended Engr Titus Uba for his humility and synergy with other key players, expressing optimism that the PDP guber candidate would serve the state diligently.
But in a swift reaction, Hembe who noted that the Labour Party would never contemplate such relationship added that nothing in this world would make him consider joining with the PDP.
He said the PDP administration owes pensioners 64 months arrears, owes 17 months of civil servants salary arrears, has borrowed and plunged Benue into over 180 billion in debt, refused to pay bailout funds to workers and pensioners.
Referring to the PDP as an anti people, Hembe said he has no incentive for identifying with such a lost cause.
“Labour Party has nothing to do with Benue PDP or outgoing governor Samuel Ortom, and would never contemplate any such relationship. House of Assembly candidates of our party too have not, and will not step down for any party,” he said.