Meet Orker Jev, The Senator – Elect Who Stopped George Akume

For those who are familiar with Benue politics, Senator George Akume remains a major political force to be reckoned with when it comes to politics in the state. It is an incontrovertible fact that Akume has always determined who becomes the governor of the state.  As a result of this he wields significant influence on his successors. He is thus acclaimed to be the undisputed political godfather in the state.  

He was governor of Benue state between 1999 to 2007. He was elected as senator in 2007 representing Benue North West, reelected in 2011 and 2015.

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Akume was believed to have installed Gabriel Suswam as governor of the state in 2007 as his successor. After Suswam completed his two terms as governor, he again installed current governor, Samuel Ortom in 2015.  He fought some forces in his party; the APC to have Ortom fly the party’s flag after the former could not get his former party, the PDP’s flag to run for governor.

That tells of the level of influence he commanded. He was a political colossus in the state.

He was even rumoured to have had an overbearing influence on Ortom. He was said to have nominated many of the commissioners in Ortom’s government. It was this overbearing influence that reportedly led to a strain in the relationship between him and the governor. The governor as a result defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP late last year.

Last Saturday’s election for the Benue North West Senatorial district was all about Senator George Akume. As godfather of politics and leader of the APC in the state for about two decades, it was inconceivable that he would suffer a deadly blow on the election field. 

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But the outcome of the election has proved bookmakers wrong as the ‘unshakable’ Akume fell.

Headlines from yesterday, February 26 after the declaration of the winner of the senatorial race have been mostly about the defeat suffered by Akume. Not much has been said however, about the feat accomplished by Orker Jev who emerged victorious at the poll.

Mr. Jev defeated Akume in a major upset by polling 157, 726 votes to the latter’s 115,422.

The total valid votes cast are 287, 028.

So who is Jev?

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Hon. Orker-Jev Emmanuel Yisa was born on April 15th, 1963. He hails from Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. He is a lawyer and politician currently serving at the House of Representatives where he represents Buruku Federal Constituency. 

Hon. Jev attended NKST Primary School from 1970 until 1976 when he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC). From 1976 to 1981, he attended Bristow Secondary School and graduated with a West African Senior Certificate (WASC). In 1985, he enrolled at the University of Jos, Plateau State and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) in 1988. He attended the Nigerian Law School in 1988 and was called to bar in 1989. 

After serving as a lawyer in the public and private sectors, Hon. Jev joined politics in the mid-2000s and in 2007 was elected to represent Buruku Constituency at the House of Representatives, Abuja. He has since won re-election in 2011 and 2015. From May 2011 to May 2015, he served in the following committees; Ethics & Privileges, Drugs & Narcotics, Poverty Alleviation, Power, and Anti-corruption. Since May 2015, he has been in the Rules & Business committee.

Jev’s legislative interests include rural development and youth empowerment. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Mr. Jev is currently the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FCT

The senator-elect for Benue North West is married.

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