Samuel Ode

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.

Ode is a native of Edikwu, Benue State. 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.

Early life and education
Ode had his primary education at NKST Primary School, Gboko from 1974 to 1980. 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
Ode became a politician with his first appearance as the elected Benue state secretary of the National Democratic Party in 2002. In 2005, Ode was appointed the Special Assistant to the Governor George Akume until he became the caretaker Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area.

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

He later became the Minister of State of Niger Delta Affairs, appointed by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. 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.

Membership and fellowship

 * Fellow of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies
 * Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
 * Commonwealth Association of Public Administration and Management
 * Nigerian-Trinidad Chamber
 * IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja

Awards and honours

 * 2008: Global Training Consulting in London, United Kingdom award of excellence
 * 2009: UNESCO Award of Honour for Youth Development in 2009
 * 2010: Honorary award from Idoma National Forum
 * 2010: The Young Achiever of the Year Award by Sardauna Magazine
 * 2017: National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies award of excellence
 * 2023: Wesley University, Ondo state Honorary award

Deputy governorship position
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.

In 2022, he was a candidate for governorship in the primary which he lost as the runner up to Alia. He later was appointed the running mate of the APC candidate for governorship, Hyacinth Iormem Alia for the 2023 general election in Benue State. 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. In 2023, He was declared the deputy governor of Benue State and was sworn in in May, 2023.

Personal life
Ode married Christie Sam-Ode (née Ada) and had eight children.

Electoral controversy
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. He stated it was in opposition to the [Section 182(1)(j)] of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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."

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

Other ventures
He is also the chairman of the organising committee of Benue International Investment Summit. He had also served as the Chairman of Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority.