ADC to choose deputy governor candidate in Benue, reveals selection criteria

The African Democratic Congress in Benue State has set up a committee to choose a running mate for the party’s governorship candidate in the upcoming general elections.

During its primary election, the party picked a former member of the House of Representatives, Herman Hembe, as its governorship candidate. He represented the Konshisha/Vandeikya Federal Constituency.

On Monday, the party formed the committee following a letter from its governorship candidate. The aim is to carefully consider who will be the running mate.

Peter Chirzenden, the state party secretary, inaugurated the committee on behalf of the chairman. He explained the criteria for picking a running mate.

Some of the criteria include integrity, democratic values, and dedication to the party’s ideology. Chirzenden said, “It is in view of this that we have sought, we have sat and carefully selected men and women of proven integrity, men of timber and calibre, who will come together and look into how we are going to select a running mate for the candidate of our great party in the 2027 governorship election, in the person of Rt. Hon. Hembe.

“Therefore, we charge you that as you go about sitting and deliberating sincerely on bringing a running mate to our governorship candidate, not just someone who will be a running mate, but somebody who is democratic in nature and who will also contribute his own quota to the progress and development of our party.

“Also carefully look into issues that will bring about somebody who has integrity, somebody who has democracy at heart, somebody who will also build the party, not just somebody who will serve as a candidate but somebody who will give us the desired popularity going into the 2027 general elections.”

The committee members tasked with selecting the party’s deputy governorship candidate include Senator Orke Jev, Engr. Okpe Onah, AVM Steve Onuh, Mrs. Rose Ameh, Barr. Ogah Okwu, Prof. David Salifu, Hon. Jack Mulya, Mrs. Abeje Egwa, and Hon. Alex Igwe.

The committee has until June 20 to submit its report. The chairman of the committee, Okpe Onah, promised that they will choose a candidate who will add value to the party and improve its chances of winning the upcoming governorship election in the state.