Ortom, PDP In War Of Words Over Suspension Claim

A fierce exchange of words has erupted between former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over claims of his suspension from the party.

The controversy began when reports surfaced alleging that the PDP had suspended Ortom, who has been a prominent figure within the party.

Speaking through his media aide, Terver Akase, the former governor said his reported suspension was null and void.

“Ortom has not been suspended. He is the leader of the party in the state, and any meeting that is called or going on without his consent is null and void,” Akase said.

He insisted that the embattled Benue PDP Chairman, John Ngbede, had been suspended for one month and had no standing to convene any meeting to suspend anyone.

But Ngbede, speaking with journalists at the party’s secretariat along Otukpo Road in Makurdi on Tuesday, insisted that Ortom had been suspended.

According to him, Ortom was suspended for attempting to hijack the PDP leadership in the state and return the party to the old order where malpractices held sway.

He said, “It’s true that the former governor was suspended by the  State Working Committee of the party because what we are saying is that we will not allow anyone who thinks he can take the leadership of the party by force.

“The party belongs to the people, and that is what we want to do. We will not allow anyone to take us back to the old order where they will be hijacking voting materials. We should allow people to feel the impact of the congress.”

Ngbede also insisted that he remained the Benue PDP Chairman.

“Ordinarily, our tenure expires on August 4,  but we are waiting for the directive of the national secretariat. It’s only the state executive committee of the party that can suspend me by virtue of my position as a member of the national executive,” he said.