2023: Consensus has worked for us in Benue – Ortom

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has charged the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State to unite and take drastic steps to ensure that those who left the party return. 

He also advised them to  embark on a new membership drive to strengthen the fortunes of the party in the 2023 general elections. 

The governor spoke Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja at a meeting with some key stakeholders of the party from Nasarawa State to find solutions to the leadership crisis that has plagued the party in the state. 

Governor Ortom charged the leaders to “be united as a team. We need to push harder to bring everyone back.” 

He lamented that he is “not happy being the only PDP governor in the North Central zone”, stressing that, “if we were more in numbers, it would have been better” 

He however expressed appreciation to the stakeholders for keeping faith with the party and encouraged them not to give up while assuring them of his support always. 

Governor Ortom was optimistic that “The performance of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has given the PDP opportunity to bounce back”

On strategies to winning elections in the state, Governor Ortom appealed to the party leaders to be united for the interest of the party by building consensus as an easy way to entrench confidence among its members. 

He told them that, “Consensus has worked for us in Benue State. I urge you to adopt same. Look for popular candidates for all the positions and appeal to those who may not get the tickets to work for the party.” 

Chairman, Board of Trustee, BOT, of PDP, Walid Jibril thanked Governor Ortom for his leadership role in the North Central region of the country particularly, Nasarawa State. 

The BOT chairman while assuring the party of his support, emphasised that the unity of the party should be the concern of stakeholders of the party in the state, pointing out that “We should do away with all forms of sentiments and go for the best candidate” 

Senator Solomon Ewuga appealed to members of the party to put the interest of the party above every other interest. 

He alleged that the APC in the state is plotting to disrupt the progress that the PDP has made so far. 

Chairman, PDP Nasarawa State, Francis Orogu and Yusuf Ayitogo in their separate remarks, appealed to the stakeholders of the party to ensure that justice, equity and fairness reigns in the state. 

Meanwhile, a former Minister of Information and Communication, Labaran Maku has indicated that he was rejoining the PDP. 

He stated this shortly before the beginning of the meeting of the Nasarawa State stakeholders of the party with the Benue State Governor when he was called in to brief the meeting. 

Maku described the PDP as his home, stating that even in the heat of the electioneering campaign while he was in the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), he never said anything negative against the PDP. 

He assured Governor Ortom of his support to ensure that Nasarawa State is returned to the PDP. “I have come with a clean heart to work together with stakeholders of the party for the victory of the party in Nasarawa State”, he stated.