2023 Rigging Plan: You Are Only Attempting Emotional Blackmail – APC Fires Ortom

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom of attempting cheap emotional blackmail with his claims that the ruling party wants to rig the 2023 elections.

The APC in a statement by its Publicity Secretary in Benue, James Ornguga, said the governor and his party are the ones fond of rigging elections.

The statement follows an earlier submission by Governor Ortom in which he warned that election riggers will fail in Benue state come 2023.

He also challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to have a rethink, stressing that Nigeria cannot retain the analogue ways of doing things when the world is going digital.

Naija News reports that the Governor stated this in Makurdi on Wednesday while exchanging views with newsmen on the controversy surrounding the electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Acts amendment bill by the National Assembly.

He handed the warning while chatting with newsmen in Makurdi shortly after his return from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum meeting in Abuja.

“I think as a country we have come of age. We cannot go back to analogue when the whole world is going digital. Mr. President must have a rethink. I want to advise him not to sign the amendment to the Electoral Act without electronic transmission.

“For us here in the state (Benue), we will be fully mobilised, anyone that comes to rig election in 2023, should say his last prayer. You cannot rig where we are in the majority. It is impossible,” he said.

But the APC in response said the Governor is afraid of his own shadows.

“The Bible says the wicked run when no one is pursuing them and that is exactly what PDP in Benue is doing. Outside rigging, Gov. Ortom and PDP cannot win any election in Benue.

“APC is ready for him this time. We will not allow him to rig elections in Benue State again. His comment is mere emotional blackmail,” he said.