Samuel Ode

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Samuel Ode
Deputy Governor of Benue State
Assumed office
29 May 2023
GovernorHyacinth Alia
Preceded byBenson Abounu
Minister of State in the Niger Delta Ministry
Personal details
Born
Samuel Ode

(1968-11-07) 7 November 1968 (age 55)
Gboko, Benue State
NationalityNigerian
Political partyAll Progressive Congress
SpouseChristie Sam-Ode
Children6
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer
WebsiteCampaign website

Samuel Ode (born 7 November 1968, Gboko, Benue State) is a lawyer, educator and politician who served as the deputy governor of Benue State since 2023.[1][2]

Ode is a native of Edikwu, Benue State.[3] He was the tenth child out of fifteen children of Christopher Ikwue Ode of Idoma descent, a retired Nigerian soldier and colonel in 1982 and the mother, late Helen Mzamber of Tiv descent, a trained nurse.[3]

Early life and education[edit]

Ode had his primary education at NKST Primary School, Gboko from 1974 to 1980.[4] He went to Wesley High School, Otukpo and got his General Certificate of Education in 1985. Afterwards, he proceeded to Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo where he had his degree in law in 1987. In 1993, he moved to Plateau State and for admitted into the University of Jos, where he got his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts. Subsequently, he had other degrees from the University of Abuja including; LL.B. in public and international law education in 2007, 2009, and 2015. Others were; master's degree in public administration, media arts, and an respectively. In 2017, He did his yearly service at Nigerian Law School, Abuja and was called to bar in 2019. He is currently a Ph.D. student in international law and diplomacy at the University of Johannesburg.

Political career[edit]

Ode became a politician with his first appearance as the elected Benue state secretary of the National Democratic Party in 2002.[5] In 2005, Ode was appointed the Special Assistant to the Governor George Akume until he became the caretaker Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area.[6]

He was also appointed the special adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to the Governor of Benue State by Gabriel Suswam.[5]

He later became the Minister of State of Niger Delta Affairs, appointed by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.[7] He was also appointed the Nigerian presidential liaison to Abdoulaye Wade, the then president of Senegal during the 39th ECOWAS summit for African Heads of State and Government. He was a governorship candidate for the 2015 election in the state.[8]

Membership and fellowship[edit]

Awards and honours[edit]

Deputy governorship position[edit]

Further information: 2023 Benue State gubernatorial election

In 2018, Ode was selected for the deputy governorship of the running mate of the APC gubernatorial flag bearer, Barr. Emmanuel Jime in Benue State.[10][11]

In 2022, he was a candidate for governorship in the primary which he lost as the runner up to Alia.[12][13][14] He later was appointed the running mate of the APC candidate for governorship, Hyacinth Iormem Alia for the 2023 general election in Benue State.[15] Although, the Zone C APC elders of Benue South Senatorial District rejected his declaration as the governorship elect and denied the nomination by issuing a statement rejecting the reported choice of Ode as the running mate of Fr Alia.[16][17] In 2023, He was declared the deputy governor of Benue State and was sworn in in May, 2023.[18][19][20]

Personal life[edit]

Ode got married to Christie Sam-Ode (née Ada) and had eight children.[21]

Electoral controversy[edit]

Titus Uba, an aspirant of the Governor of Benue State for People's Democratic Party in 2023 alleged that Ode presented a manipulated certificate to INEC.[22] He stated it was in opposition to the [Section 182(1)(j)] of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.[23][24]

Titus also said that the running mate for governorship of Ode, Hyacinth Alia's name was presented less than 180 days before the election date, and that of Ode wasn't presented after the re-run of the primary election. However, all his petitions were dismissed with the reason according to Justice Ibrahim Karaye as "pre statute-barred."[25]

In another ruling by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, he said, "The appellant failed to prove the allegation of forgery beyond reasonable doubt."[21]

Other ventures[edit]

He is also the chairman of the organising committee of Benue International Investment Summit.[26] He had also served as the Chairman of Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "UPDATED: A'Court affirms Benue Gov's victory". Punch NG. 20 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  2. ^ Osasona, Kehinde (8 January 2024). "Supreme Court affirms Alia as Benue governor". Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b Duru, Peter (28 November 2014). "Benue: I'm the Idoma bridge to the governorship — Ode". Vanguard NG. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  4. ^ "ODE, Chief (Hon) Samuel". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Ode: For The First Time, Tiv, Idoma Are Smiling Together". Daily Trust. 2 April 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Benue: It's fight to finish for Tiv/Idoma". Vanguard NG. 3 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Former Minister Sam Ode Named Benue Deputy Governor-elect". This Day Newspaper. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Sam Ode Declares For Benue Governorship". Channels TV. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  9. ^ Alimi, Nurudeen (15 November 2023). "Wesley University produces 38 first-class graduates". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Benue: Former Minister, Ode Replaces Akor As Jime's Running Mate". Daily Trust. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2023. A former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Barr. Sam Ode has emerged the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
  11. ^ "APC names Ode as gov's running mate in Benue". punchng.com. December 2018. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  12. ^ Itsibor Itsibor (3 February 2023). "Father Alia emerges winner of Benue APC gov rerun". Nigerian Observer News. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  13. ^ Johnson Babajide (3 February 2023). "Again, Catholic priest Alia wins rescheduled APC governorship primaries in Benue". Nigerian tribune. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Again, Catholic priest emerges Benue APC gov candidate". punchng.com. 4 February 2023. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Benue APC picks Ode as deputy governorship candidate". The Nation. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  16. ^ Ochogwu Sunday (26 July 2022). "2023: Fresh trouble in Benue APC as Zone C elders reject Sam Ode as Alia's running mate". Daily Post. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  17. ^ Toyin Adebayo (23 July 2022). "APC Elders Deny Sam Ode's Nomination As Running Mate To Guber Candidate In Benue". Independent Newspaper. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  18. ^ Nnenna Okoronkwo; Bilkisu Halilu (29 May 2023). "Inauguration: North Central Governors Take Oath Of Office". von.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Benue Governorship: Tribunal adjourns for judgement". AIT. 14 August 2023. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  20. ^ Aloysius Umalo (28 May 2023). "Benue State: "Incoming Administration Will Hit The Ground Running" – Deputy Governor-Elect". Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  21. ^ a b Moses Akawe (7 November 2023). "Gov Alia celebrates Sam Ode at 55". The Voices Newspaper. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Benue guber: PDP, Uba urges tribunal to nullify Alia's victory over alleged forgery". Vanguard NG. 14 August 2023. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Appeal Court affirms Hyacinth Alia as Benue Governor". National Accord Newspaper. 20 November 2023. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  24. ^ Treasure Orokpo (1 September 2023). "Benue Deputy Governor's counsel dismisses PDP's election petition". Idoma Voice. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Benue Gov Poll: Appeal Court Dismisses Uba's Appeal Against Alia, Deputy". Channels TV. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Benue set to hold first International investment summit – Sir Addingi". Sun News Nigeria. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

External links[edit]

Party political offices
Preceded by
 APC nominee for Deputy Governor of Benue State
2023 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Deputy Governor of Benue State
2023 		Incumbent
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