147 aspirants in Benue State buy nomination forms
No fewer than 147 aspirants In Benue State have so far bought chairmanship nomination forms from PDP to contest positions into the 23 local government councils in the state. Among them are 30 women and 576 councillorship aspirants who have picked their nomination forms.

Newsmen report that following the sensitization of Benue women by the wife of the governor, Mr Yemisi Suswam, to fully participate in the forthcoming local government polls.  One of the leading female contenders in the race for one of the 23 chairmanship positions is Mrs. Theresa Ikwue from Ichama, Okpokwu LGA, described as a grassroots female politician, and a rallying point for her people especially the down-trodden and less privileged in Okpokwu LGA and Benue South Senatorial District as a whole.

According to sources, Mrs. Ikwue also contested the chairmanship position in 2003 but was asked to step down by the then governor for the eventual winner and former state ALGON Chairman, Mr. Abba Moro, who also later delivered Benue State to the Yar’Adua/Goodluck ticket as state co-ordinator in the April general elections.

Addressing newsmen at the grand finale of the female sensitization rally organised by the Office of the First Lady of Benue State and the Ministry of Women Affairs in Makurdi, Mrs. Ikwue said “my being in politics is mainly because my people have been yearning for me to get into the race and touch their lives positively.