Speaker Emberga Sets To Return For Second Term

Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Hon Alfred Emberga emerges top of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Makurdi North State Constituency. The general elections are scheduled for 2027.

He defeated other aspirants from the election conducted by the party. Emberga went into the contest as incumbent seeking the second term to represent the constituency.

The returning officer, Atov Desmond who declared the result at the collation centre for the party in Makurdi said, out of the total registration of 24,414 voters, only 7,382 cast ballot while Emberga came top with 7,303 to defeat Hon Stephen Gatso and the rest in the race.

With the victory, the electoral officer declared Speaker Emberga who scored the highest lawful votes as winner of the contest.

The joyful Speaker briefed journalists after declaration of the results and said, victory from the polls came courtesy of development projects and empowerment programmes he has so far provided across the State Constituency under three years.

Appreciating people of the constituency for confidence reposed in him, the Speaker stated that the support party members gave with people of the constituency reflected the impact of his representation for the geopolitical area.

He said "well, I thank God and appreciate my constituents for finding me worthy once again to represent them."

He attributed victory in the poll for his second term bid largely to his track record of the constituency projects and interventions aimed at the improvement of welfare for people in the jurisdiction.

The Hon Speaker disclosed that his administration carried out several community-based projects, supported churches and empowered residents across the constituency.

In his words "in the past three years, we have executed numerous projects and empowerment programmes. We supported communities, churches and many individuals across the constituency. The people can see what we are doing and this is why they stood by us."

Speaker Emberga disclosed also that one of his major achievements has been the provision of potable water through the drilling of nearly 40 boreholes in different communities to address water shortages.

Other areas according to Hon Emberga included improving electricity supply in parts of Makurdi North and that the contractors were mobilized to address longstanding power challenges for people of the constituency.

He said "for years, some communities suffered poor electricity supply, but through our intervention, approvals were secured and contractors mobilized to improve the situation."

On the feelings of the public about performance of the APC, winner of the primary election said "the massive turnout recorded during the APC primary election is the indication that party members and residents are satisfied about the performance of the APC-led administration in the state."

He added "everywhere you go, you can see the excitement among the people. The turnout shows that the people are happy with the direction of the party." Emberga assured of sustaining people-oriented programmes as well as to continue providing effective representation if re-elected in the general elections.