-10 lawmakers, 13 LG chairs, 276 councillors too
-There’s freedom of choice – APC
Barely 24 hours after some members of the National Assembly dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party, the former, has, again, suffered yet another setback with the Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom defecting to the PDP.
Ortom, was prior to his election in 2015, a PDP member, who dumped the party for the APC when he could not secure the PDP ticket.
His defection ended weeks of speculation, especially after crying out that the state chapter of the party had given him a red card.
Apart from the state’s security challenge arising from the herders, farmers’ clashes, the governor had been in a running battle with the APC leader in the state, Senator George Akume.
As a precursor to Ortom’s defection, Senator Barnabas Gemade, Hon. Mark Obillah, Dickson Tarkhigir, and Emmanuel Udende, all members of the National Assembly from the state on APC platform, had earlier defected to the PDP on Tuesday.
Although another lawmaker from the state, Oker-Jev, also defected from APC, he is however yet to make known his new platform.
While the defectors are joining Senator David Mark as well as other PDP lawmakers in the House of Representatives, Senator Akume still remains within the ruling party’s fold.
Ortom explains defection
Explaining his defection at a meeting with elected councillors and 13 local government council chairmen at the Government House Makurdi, yesterday, the governor said the decision became necessary following travails of his people in the hands of the APC-led federal government.
The council chairmen, as well as 276 councillors who were all in attendance, concurred with the governor on his new political move.
Further to that, the governor said, 10 out of the 17 members of the state legislature elected on APC platform, also followed him into his new party-the PDP.
Justifying his decision, Governor Ortom noted that despite the fact that the APC national leadership was aware of his travails and the misunderstanding with Senator Akume, they did little or nothing to address it.
He said: “I have issues and APC national leadership was aware, but I consulted with my people, the 13 chairmen and 276 councillors have asked me to leave the party.
“For that reason, I have now formerly resigned my membership of the APC, and I want everyone to know now that I am no longer a member of the APC.
“For your information’ I have already presented the letter to APC in my ward and the leadership of the party has also indicated their interest to leave the party with me.
“So I now formally want you to know that I have returned to join the PDP.”
Briefing newsmen shortly after his declaration, the governor described the PDP as familiar terrain, and a better platform that would protect his interest and that of the Benue people.
“I was in PDP and I discovered that my interest was not protected that was why I left the party. Now I am in APC and I discovered to my dismay that my interest and that of my people are not being protected in the ruling party.
“The party has been hijacked and is being run by one man who is behaving like a dictator.
“But now that the PDP is rebranded and a lot of reforms are going on to ensure that the true tenets of democracy are observed in it, I feel that if I return to the party, I will be able to add value to my people,” the governor added.
On the recent press conference held by PDP governorship aspirants in Benue against the governor’s return to the party Ortom said, “I intend to consult widely with other aspirants most of whom are my brothers.
“I do not have issues with them resisting my coming back to the party.
The more the merrier and I think we are stronger together.”
Earlier, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in the state, and chairman Guma local government council, Mr. Anthony Shawon, and several of his colleagues, as well as chairman of the Forum of Legislative Councils, Mr. Tom Hanmakyur, all pledged support for the governor’s decision.
Shawon, particularly, noted that the public opinion was in favour of
Governor Ortom leaving the APC.
Youths stop Ortom from Abuja trip But prior to his defection, a mild drama ensued at the Government House, Makurdi, when youths, under the aegis of Coalition of Benue Youths, blocked the governor’s convoy and prevented him from travelling to Abuja.
Also, the youths angrily removed the APC flag from the governor’s vehicle and asked him to make a detour and return to his lodge.
The governor, was billed for a reconciliation meeting between him and Akume, tomorrow at the instance of the National Executive Committee of the party.
The governor who stepped out of his vehicle, to plead with the youths to allow him attend the Abuja meeting, was strongly resisted.
The youths who were numbering over 3000 from over 40 different groups, threatened to mobilise votes against the governor if he insisted on going to Abuja for the meeting.
They insisted the only option available for the governor was for him to stay back home and not attend the meeting, advising him, to rather look for another party platform.
The group which arrived the Government House as early as 8.00 am, also carriedplacards some of with various inscriptions; “Ortom Don’t Go Back To APC,” APC is Miyetti Party, You Must Leave APC,” Ortom is Our Party and; “2019: On Ortom We Stand.”
Their spokesmen, Terrence Kuanum, and Pastor Dave Ogbole, threatened to vote him out in 2019 if he went ahead to attend the meeting.
Ogbole noted that the any leader voted into government has the responsibility to protect the people, saying the APC-led government has failed the people by its inability to secure their lives and property.
Ortom’s defection shocking – APC
Meanwhile, the national headquarters of the APC has described the governor’s exit as “somewhat surprising.”
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi last night in Abuja, recalled efforts by the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to address some of the grievances raised by the governor.
“The governor had left the meeting saying he was satisfied with the assurances given by party leaders. We are still working on giving effect to the resolutions from the meeting. Therefore, we are somewhat surprised by Governor Ortom’s decision.
“The party reiterates its earlier position that it respects the rights of every citizen to choose their political affiliation but expresses hopes that those who have left the party will rescind their decisions.
“Even with this development, we don’t think it is too late for reconciliation. We have to continue to talk. As long as people keep their minds open and have the courage to put the real issues on the table, reconciliation is still possible,” the statement added.
Abdullahi appealed for calm among members across the country, saying the leadership will continue to work hard to position the party strongly for the next general elections.
