Johnson Babajide, Makurdi
Benue State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has passed a vote of confidence in its leader in the state, Governor Samuel Ortom.
The vote of confidence is coming on the heels of the steps taken by the party National Working Committee (NWC) in referring Ortom to its Disciplinary Committee to answer charges of anti-party activities preferred against him.
In a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom and made available to newsmen in Makurdi, noted that the party in the state finds it difficult to understand the rationale by which the NWC determined nti-party activities and singled out governor Ortom out of the G-5 governor for punitive action.
“And what the procedure is for meting out punitive measures against such anti-party activities where some persons including Professor Dennis Ityavyar have been suspended without facing any disciplinary Committee.
“The party feels strongly that in fulfilling its duty as a state chapter it must remind the NWC of the implications of its current action against Governor Ortom and others.
“Firstly, the action runs in contempt of a subsisting court injunction restraining PDP at all levels from taking any punitive action against the Benue State Governor pending the determination of a substantive suit which is lying before a court of competent jurisdiction on the matter.
“Secondly, going by the mood within PDP ranks in Benue, it is the expectation that the emphasis now will be on mending bonds of unity and internal cohesion which were badly damaged in the build-up to and during the 2023 elections leading to the huge losses recorded by the party at the polls against an evidently weaker opposition.
“Never in the entire history of PDP has the party fared so badly at an election in Benue State as witnessed in 2023, ironically at a time its National Chairman is from the state.
“PDP in Benue sees this latest action of the NWC against Governor Ortom as ill-timed, considering that evidence on ground point rather to the governor’s steadfastness in loyalty and love for PDP since his rejoining the party in 2018.
The state chapter of the party frowned at the decision of the NWC and highlighted the steps and loyalty of Governor Ortom towards the growth and wellbeing of PDP in Benue State.
According to PDP in the state, Ortom has instituted a solid performance track record in the governance of the state since rejoining PDP in 2018 with landmark achievements in security, roads infrastructure, education, healthcare delivery, agriculture, commerce and industry, socio-cultural orientation upon which our great party derives credibility and solid standing before the people of Benue State.
