We Don’t Have Money To Conduct LG Polls – Benue Gov

Samuel OrtomGovernor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has declared that the state lacks the financial wherewithal to conduct council polls in the state.

“We don’t have money to conduct local government election”, the governor said in no uncertain terms.

The state Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), had earlier presented a bill of N1.5 billion for the conduct of the council polls but the governor reduced the amount to N800million.

SEE ALSO: We Regret Voting Ortom As Governor: Benue Residents

The local government election was earlier scheduled by the electoral empire to hold on September 3, but due to financial constraints, the exercise will no longer hold.

According to Gov. Ortom, the 23 local government councils in the state were supposed to provide 60 percent of the money required, while the state would provide 40 the remaining percent but the current economic realities in the state has made it impossible for the councils to provide their share of the money as required.

It was earlier speculated that the governor, at a meeting with stakeholders early this week, agreed to shift the election due to paucity of funds.