Fallout of Benue PDP ward congresses: Ortom explores alternative platform

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Former Minister of State, Trade and Investment and top Benue governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Samuel Ortom has resolved to set up a committee to explore possibilities of an alternative platform for the realization of his ambition.

 The resolution was taken at a meeting held yesterday in Makurdi and attended by over 250 major stakeholders including former national and state assembly members, state executive council members, council chairmen, party chieftains, women and youths across Benue State.

However, other stakeholders who also included the aspirant’s campaign directors, advisers, elders, as well as local government coordinators and secretaries urged him to continue to exploit opportunities in the PDP.

Ortom’s campaign Director General, Mr Tsenongo Abancha and Adviser, Mr Terwase Orbunde, said there were ominous signs from the PDP on account of the inability of the party’s leaders to address complaints arising from the recent ward congresses in the state.

They maintained that they had also received reliable information that there was a deliberate plan to exclude Dr Ortom from the governorship primaries in the PDP hence the need to explore an alternative platform.

Both Abancha and Orbunde noted that Ortom remains the most popular governorship aspirant in the state and that the people looked up to him to provide them with the needed leadership that would enable them confront current challenges.

They said they would implement the resolution and report back with dispatch since there was little time left to comply with requirements of the Independent National Electoral Commission with regard to nominations.

In his response, Chief Ortom assured that he would emerge victorious at the end of the day and enjoined his supporters not to antagonize anyone but rather to trust God and move on to His righteous side as stated in his campaign anthem.