Benue 2023: We didn’t endorse Akase – Igede Media Professionals

A group under the aegis of the Association of Igede Media Professionals (AIMP), has denied its alleged endorsement of the ex-Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom, Mr Terver Akase, for the 2023 governorship contest in Benue State.

The group said it had never come in contact with Mr. Akase or any other aspirant to have warranted any endorsement.

AIMP said in a statement issued at the weekend that the job of journalists is not to endorse candidates for political offices but rather make their ideals and programmes known to the public for informed choice, adding that those behind the report that the group endorsed Akase were impersonators or mischief-makers.

“Our attention has been drawn to a news report trending in the social media to the effect that the Association of Igede Media Professionals, AIMP, has endorsed Mr Terver Akase, former media aide to Governor Samuel Ortom, for the Benue State governorship race come 2023.

The said report came to us as a surprise and we wish to unequivocally state that the story is false and a figment of the imaginations of the writers and their sponsors with obvious ill motives.

It needs to be emphasized that at no time did Igede Media Professionals meet with any governorship aspirant in the state, talk less of endorsement of their ambitions.

We are a group of thoroughbred professionals with a mandate to defend the interest of our people, and in doing that we shall adhere strictly to journalism ethics.

We, therefore, find it appalling that some persons would drag our name into such an unholy endeavour for whatever reasons. This is impersonation and mischief,” the Association said in a statement signed by its President, Egena Sunday Ode.

The association declared in the statement that it aligned itself with the agitation for power shift to Zone C in 2023, saying that it is the best way to redress the imbalances and marginalization that had characterized the politics of the state.

“As a body, we align ourselves with the agitation for power shift to Zone C for the first time since the creation of the state in 1976 as a way of addressing the political imbalances and marginalization of the zone. We will continue to promote this worthy cause.

We commend the Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan-led Benue Reform Movement (BRM) for the initiative to persuade other zones in the state, which have tasted the governorship seat repeatedly, to give Benue South a chance this time around.

Accordingly, we urge the public, especially Benue electorates to disregard the said endorsement of Mr Akase by our group. It didn’t happen!”