PDP Crisis: Governor Ortom Speaks On G5 Endorsing Atiku

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has come out to describe as false and mischievous the reports circulating in some online platforms that the five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors also known the G5 have endorsed the party’s flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar.

The Publisher Nigeria reports that the governor debunked such reports making rounds saying he and his counterparts in the G-5 have never resolved to work with Atiku.

Ortom, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Terver Akase, on Tuesday, said the report is fake and should be disregarded by the public.

According to him, the false and mischievous report is targeted at embarrassing the G5 Governors who have chosen the path of justice, fairness and equity.

Ortom submitted during his meeting on Monday with the state caucus of the PDP, he was clear that the national leadership of the party had failed to utilise its internal conflict resolution mechanism, which has led to the crisis rocking the party.

His reaction follows a report circulating in some online platforms about how the G5 governors have resolved to stick to the PDP and support Atiku to win next month’s election.

It was gathered that Ortom allegedly said in the report circulating that “Despite our disagreement with the National Chairman of our party who has refused to honor a simple gentleman agreement entered into in the interest of the party, we shall work for the candidates of our party.

“It has become a high demand from all quarters that we make this sacrifice for the sake of Nigerians.

“So we let go as our agitation has never been for us as Governors but for all of us and now that the majority is asking we let go, we have accepted and therefore reaffirm our commitment to ensure victory for all candidates of our party the PDP in the coming national elections beginning from the presidency to the legislative candidates.”

However, the governor, while reacting to the report, pointed out that “We read a fictitious online report which claimed that the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and his colleagues in the G-5 have resolved to work for the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to win the 2023 election.

“The report is not only false but also mischievous as it is targeted at embarrassing the five Governors who have chosen the path of justice, fairness and equity.

“Manufacturers of the said report were apparently on a desperate mission to score a cheap political point. The report could not mention the place and date of the said meeting of G-5 Governors. The writers only sought to take advantage of the crisis within the PDP for their selfish purposes. Governor Ortom and other members of the G-5 have not endorsed the said presidential candidate.

“When the Governor met with the expanded state caucus of PDP yesterday, January 9, 2023, at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, his message to them was crystal clear that the national leadership of PDP has failed to utilize its internal conflict resolution mechanism, which has led to the crisis rocking the party. The Governor said during the meeting that if the crisis is not resolved before the elections, he would be left with no other option than to take a stand on the matter. He added, however, that he wouldn’t impose his decision on members of the party in the state.

“Governor Ortom did not address the press after the meeting. The online report is, therefore, fake and should be disregarded.”