Gladness Gideon
Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has disclosed that his resolution to oppose the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through the 2023 basic elections was rooted within the celebration’s failure to uphold the ideas of fairness, equity, and justice.
In an interview aired Thursday on Come up Tv, Ortom clarified that though he stays a card-carrying member of the PDP, he couldn’t, in good conscience, assist its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over the past election.
“I went towards the PDP within the final election just because I believed the celebration would stand for fairness, equity, and justice — ideas they sadly didn’t uphold,” he said.
Ortom, a key determine within the G5 Governors—a bunch of 5 PDP governors who opposed Atiku’s candidacy—recounted being a part of a 20-member committee constituted to suggest an appropriate operating mate for the PDP presidential ticket.
He revealed that 16 members, together with himself, endorsed the then Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, however the celebration management in the end disregarded the advice.
“One way or the other, the candidate and people in management positions throughout the celebration determined to work towards him [Wike],” Ortom mentioned.
READ ALSO: 2027: I Don’t Assist Northern Candidate, South Ought to Full Eight Years — Ortom
He added that the G5 Governors’ agitation was not solely political however pushed by a real want to make sure that energy shifted to southern Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year rule.
“Whereas the G5 agenda was additionally about pursuits, our unique purpose was to have a southern candidate, and I’m glad {that a} southern candidate in the end emerged as President,” Ortom remarked.
His remarks come because the PDP continues to grapple with inner tensions and requires restructuring following its loss within the 2023 presidential election.
Ortom’s public criticism is probably going so as to add to the stress on the celebration’s management to reassess its methods and dedication to inclusivity and inner democracy.
