From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
A member of the House of Representatives for Apa/Agatu federal constituency Pst Ojema Ojotu has opined that the massive turn out of All Progressives Congress, APC party faithfuls in his constituency and the entire state during the primaries is a big threat to other political parties in 2027.
Pst Ojotu who made this opinion while speaking with newsmen in Makurdi on Saturday, dismissed any threat from his former party the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP in 2027.
The House of Representatives committee on Inland Waterways, explained that he exited the PDP for APC because of factionalization in the party, adding that he left with his entire structure.
“Well, if you ask me whether PDP will be a threat, I will ask which of the PDP. Is it the PDP of Turaki or is that of Wike? So I think if we have that answer, then you will be able to know exactly how to answer the question. But I can assure you that on a very serious note, I was a member of PDP. I won election on the platform of PDP. And of course, it got to a point that we saw that we started having issues. And of course, at the end of the day, we left. And when I left PDP, I left with the structure of PDP in my constituency.
“So, when you pull that force and that which already exist, I can’t see how anybody will be able to stand up”, he said confidently.
Ojema who emerged as the party’s candidate in the just concluded primaries, acknowledged that the entire process was peaceful, stressing that primaries were devoid of fatalities and casualities as has been the situation in the past.
Said he, “And you will agree with me that in the history of primary election, this is the first time primary election would be conducted in this state without witnessing violence or death. You know, everywhere as you can see, is quite peaceful. People are going about very, very happy. And the happiness and the excitement you are seeing on the faces of the people is a clear indication that the outcome of the elections is good.
“It was exactly the desire, the aspiration, and the yearning of the people. You can agree with me that this is the ruling party, that is in power. And everybody is aware that when you have the ticket of this party, you are 75% close to success. But other political parties like ADC that are doing their own, you can see that there’s a lot of problems.
“You see people blocking, other people on the road, snatching the ballot papers and all that and all that. But in our case, there was no case of snatching of papers anywhere that had been reported. So that showed that this party, indeed, under the leadership of the performing governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, is doing a very wonderful job in terms of party administration. And I can also tell you for free that with the kind of turnout we saw during the primary election, I don’t think we even need that number to win the general election.
“For my own election, when I got to my local government, it looked like a crusade. The entire community were out to cast their vote for me. And of course, it has been like that today”.
“The state government has also invested significantly in logistical support for security agencies, including the provision of operational vehicles, communication equipment, motorcycles, and welfare support to personnel operating in vulnerable communities across the state.
“Furthermore, the administration prioritizes community-based security engagement, recognizing that local intelligence and citizen cooperation remain essential tools in combating insecurity.
“Through continuous collaboration with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and local government authorities, Sokoto State has sustained efforts toward conflict prevention, early warning systems, and peaceful coexistence.
“The appointment of Major General Famadewa (Rtd), given his extensive military and operational experience, presents an opportunity to deepen federal-state security collaboration and strengthen internal security management across the federation.
“As Nigeria continues to confront increasingly decentralized and asymmetric threats, institutional innovation and coordinated specialization remain critical to achieving lasting peace and stability,” it continued.
The statement noted that the Sokoto State Government therefore urges all stakeholders to support this initiative in the national interest and to avoid narratives capable of creating unnecessary institutional tension within the country’s security framework.
