Benue PDP stakeholders pledge loyalty to Ortom, Moro

The Peoples Democratic Party stakeholders in Benue State have passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the party in the state.

Speaking at a press conference held in Makurdi, on Tuesday, the spokesman for the stakeholders, Dr Laha Dzever, said the party members, at this time, needed to close ranks and place their interest above that of individuals.

The stakeholders equally passed a vote of confidence in the immediate-past governor of the state, Samuel Ortom; Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro and the National Working Committee of the party, led by Amb Umar Damagum.

The PDP in the state had been thrown into an internal crisis shortly after the ward congress, leading to the suspension and counter-suspension of Ortom and his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam.

A faction loyal to Ortom in the State Working Committee of the party had slammed suspension on the state chairman, John Ngbede, secretary and the organising committee.

In a swift reaction, the party’s SWC loyal to Suswam also slammed suspension on Ortom.

The National Working Committee of the party promptly waded in by appointing a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the party, following the expiration of the tenure of the state working committee.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Laha said, “We urge the Benue PDP family to, more than ever before, close ranks and place the interests of the party above those of individuals or groups within its ranks.

‘The umbrella of the party is large enough to accommodate the aspirations of its members at the various opportunities for elective offices as will arise from time to time.

“None of this could have been achieved without the collective will, determination, and selflessness of the party’s college of leaders, including the Benue PDP’s leader, Samuel Ortom, Senate Minority Leader, Patrick Abba Moro, and a former governor, Gabriel Suswam.”

It, therefore, passed a vote of confidence on the NWC, the caretaker committee of the party in the state, Ortom and Moro.

“At this juncture, we unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the National Working Committee of our great party, under the leadership of the National Chairman, Amb Damagum.

“We also pass a vote of confidence on the leader of the PDP in Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, for the sacrificial work he has been doing tirelessly to reposition the party and keep it growing stronger towards the objective of recapturing power in future elections.

“It is further our position that a vote of confidence is hereby passed on the leader of the opposition in Nigeria, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Patrick Abba Moro, for his steadfast commitment to the well-being and growth of PDP in Benue State and beyond, and for doing the party proud by the competent manner he is discharging his legislative and representative duties on the floor of the red chamber of the National Assembly.

“We also pass a vote of confidence in the members of the caretaker committee in affirmation of the good works they have embarked upon in the short time that they have been at the helm of affairs of the PDP in Benue,” Laha said.

The stakeholders appealed to those who lost at the recently-held ward and local government congresses to accept the outcome in good faith and admonished the winners to be magnanimous in victory by reaching out to those who aspired alongside them.

They urged all party members who had taken their grievances to courts to withdraw their cases and explore internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the party to resolve all the issues.