Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has finally defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), “after due consultations with relevant stakeholders, I have resolved that the way forward is to rejoin the PDP.”
Ortom announced his defection on Wednesday in Makurdi during a meeting with Local Government Council Chairmen and 276 Councilors in the state.
He said his decision was based on wide consultations with party and opinion leaders across the state.
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He, therefore, announced his formal resignation of the APC and said he had already presented his letter of resignation to his ward chairman as required by the APC’s constitution.
”I have formally resigned from APC to PDP and have presented my letter of resignation to the party’s chairman of my ward.
”The chairman and other officers of my ward also indicated their interest to join me in my new party.
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”I am too young to retire from politics,” he humorously said.
He lamented that despite the efforts the national body of the party was making in order to broker peace between him and some members in the state, ”aggression” against him continued.
He, however, did not say who was perpetrating the acts of aggression against him.
The governor lamented that there has been deliberate falsehood against him to dent his image.
” The same people who are now insulting me were the same people that endorsed me for a second term during the state’s congress of the party.”
Ortom explained that it was out sheer magnanimity that he told them to allow other aspirants to also run for the governorship in line with democratic values.
He said he had been endorsed because of performance and wondered why the same people were now criticizing his administration.
The leader of the Councilors, who agreed to defect with the governor, Mr Tom Hanmaikyur, and the state’s ALGON Chairman, Mr Anthony Shawon, pledged on behalf of their colleagues to follow the governor to any party of his choice.
They also pledged maximum support to the governor to enable him to actualize his political dreams.
In his reaction, the APC chairman, Mr Abba Yaro, said he was yet to receive the governors’ resignation letter but added: “There is no cause to worry.”
Also reacting to the news, the PDP chairman, Mr John Ngbede, said “it is a welcome development. He is welcome to our party”.
Earlier in the day, a coalition of Benue youths comprising over 40 groups blocked Gov. Samuel Ortom’s motorcade from attending a scheduled meeting with the All Progressives Congress, APC, National leadership in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the youths blocked the road at the Government House Junction displaying placards with various inscriptions amongst which were; ” Ortom don’t go back to APC”, ” No land for Cattle Colony “, ”Ortom is our Party.”
Those, who spoke on behalf of the group were, Pastor Dave Ogbole and Mr Terrence Kuanum.
They both advised the governor to jettison any plan to hold talks with the APC and instead seek an alternative political platform to realize his second term bid as governor.
They threatened to abandon him politically if he proceeded to attend the meeting in Abuja.
NAN reports that the highpoint of the melodrama was the pulling down of the APC flag on the governor’s car by his driver at the insistence of the protesters.
Wrong decision
Same in 2015, it was the way ‘forward’ to win the governorship election, he decamped to APC, after being rejected by same PDP, now planning to change name.
Nothing good is in APC,apart high records of killings
i expected this few month back
Baba quite jor
No wonder! That is why the progressive party always feel reluctantly to give this decamps some positions when they rush to their party because they will still go back to their former party again yeye Governor.
Long overdue
His eyes is now open after the turnel, congrats
Shameless party PDP,,,, shameless man,,, shame on you OK,,,,, you will soon regret with you plan to loot benue state money,,,,,,
Way forward to own workers salaries more abi
U are lost mr governor….
Frog I hop is also the solution to your disguise political herdsmen killing innocent citizen’s in your state.
This is long expected don’t forget to take Tambuwal along back to pdp where you all belonged
I agree with you Boss!
Thanks to Dr EBHOTE for curing me of hepatitis b virus if you are infected you can call or whatsapp him on +2347051969183
Right step in the right direction.
Ok ooooooo
Self journey sir
Prodigal sin,you are welcomed back home
Why not tell this your Dr EBHOTE to help cure APC of their acute hepatitis A, B & C virus that have infected it.. Please them now before it’s too late.
Benue suppose to teach this man a lesson come 2019, he claimed that Akume is the controlling Benue resources instead of him as an elected gov, that’s why he is unable to pay workers salaries for months, is this not a foolishness? How can a gov be allowed to be control by some one he called a godfather?
you should have stayed with Fulani terrorist government until they finish slaughter benue people on daily basis