1st November, 2022
By Nicholas Dechi
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Tuesday advised Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to addresses the challenges rocking the party so that all members of the party would work together with him to win the election.
Ortom, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Makurdi during the inauguration of the party’s campaign council, declared that he had no issues with any candidate of the party.
Ortom and four other governors of the party led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers have been calling for removal of Iyorchia Ayu as the national chairman of the party.
They had insisted that with the emergence of Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate, Ayu should vacate office for a Southerner in accordance with the zoning policy of the party.
But Ayu had insisted that he will not vacate office.
However, Ortom encouraged the national leadership of the party to listen to the voice of reason and address the burning issues raised by the five governors.
“All I and my colleagues want is for the committee of the whole house to address the issues holistically.
“If the issues that the five governors raised are not resolved, I cannot guarantee what will happen during the presidential election,” he said.
Ortom also revealed that Wike of Rivers has donated 25 buses to the campaign team of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue, according to Gov Samuel Ortom
He said that each of the 23 local governments would get a bus.
“Wike has also promised to be in Makurdi for the flag-off of the campaigns slated for Monday,” Ortom said.
He thanked Wike for always standing with Benue people both in good and bad moments.
The Acting Chairman of the party in the state, Mr Isaac Mffo, assured the gathering that PDP would win the 2023 polls, stressing that the party had no opposition in Benue.
Dr Cletus Tyokyaa, Director General of the Campaign Council, who spoke on behalf of the members, said that everything would be done to market the candidates toward victory.
“Now that we have been inaugurated, we will set the ball rolling in order to achieve great results,” Tyokyaa assured.
The state Woman Leader, Mrs Ewaje Egwa, appreciated Ortom for giving women a lot of appointments and supporting their political ambitions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ediga Akpa is the Secretary of the council while Mr Bemgba Iortyom is Director, Media and Publicity, among others. (NAN)