PDP Crisis: ‘I will not abandon Wike’ Ortom says following his alleged stand of not supporting Ayu’s removal

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, on Monday, was reported to have dismissed insinuations that he was in support of the removal of the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, saying it is impossible for him to advocate the removal of someone he helped to appoint.

Ortom reasserted his confidence in Ayu’s ability to lead the party to victory in next year’s general elections in surprising contrast to the position of his close ally, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

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The report said Ortom was reacting apparently to accusations by a group, Jemgbagh Development Association, that he was involved in the ouster moves against the PDP national chairman, a fellow Benue man.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur in Abuja was reported to have said it was an open secret that he worked tirelessly, alongside other prominent Benue citizens, to ensure that Ayu was elected “as the national chairman of our great party even against all odds.”

To this extent, the statement said, “The governor could not, therefore, turn around to work against him to be removed from office.”

It is described as mischievous “allegations by an amorphous, little known group parading itself as Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja chapter, that the Benue governor has a hand in Ayu’s current travails”.

The statement said, “Governor Ortom vouched for the integrity and capacity of Dr Iyorchia Ayu to lead and rebuild the PDP to victory and rescue Nigeria from the misrule of the APC maladministration. That is why Ayu was returned unopposed by the northern caucus of the party and got elected as the national chairman of the PDP at the party’s convention.

“For those, who claimed to be leaders of this Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja, we urge them to be truly developmental in their drive to build cohesion among the people and attract real development to their area rather than engaging in mischief or blackmail.”

Meanwhile, Ortom has dismissed as a ruse, the insinuation in some media reports that he has broken away from the camp of his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike.

Speaking to journalists shortly after returning from a brief London trip, he insisted that he stood with Governor Wike and frowns at the injustices meted out to him.

The Governor at the briefing said the news story is not only mischievous but misleading to further fuel the impasse within the PDP and sow a seed of discord between him and his Rivers State counterpart and other members of the group.

According to Governor Ortom “Politics is about interest, and where your interest is not protected, you have the right to protest” stressing that “We remain committed to the PDP but still want the right thing to be done so that everybody will be carried along.”

While noting that it is not late to resolve the issues, Governor Ortom further pointed out that with the interface he had with the Board of Trustees, BOT of the party, he hopes that issues will be properly addressed.

“The issue in contention about the National Chairman, the BOT, was here some few days ago and we deliberated on the matter. They sought to know what my feeling was about the crisis and I told them the truth as far as I am concerned.

“I gave them my recommendations and I hope that justice will be done so that our party will gain its position to take over power in 2023,” he said.

The Governor maintained that despite the crisis rocking the party at the national level, Benue State does not have any problem, stressing that “from bottom to top, we are good to go, as far as our party is concerned. I am working for our candidates.”

On the outcome of the caucus meeting, the Governor said after due consultations, a Benue North-West Senatorial campaign team for the Senate will be constituted, pointing out that it will be integrated into the main campaign council of PDP in Benue State.