The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has intensified. Recently, suspended party chairman John Ngbede held a meeting to approve the suspension of former governor Samuel Ortom.
Ngbede explained to reporters at the party office in Makurdi that Ortom and his supporters were suspended for attempting to seize control of the party. He accused Ortom and his allies of trying to revert the party to previous practices that were considered corrupt.
On August 5, Ngbede, along with the party’s secretary and organizing secretary were suspended following allegations of misconduct during recent ward congresses. Ngbede, however, argued that his suspension was not valid because only the national executive committee of the party had the authority to suspend him.
Ngbede said, “Our term officially ended on August 4, but we are awaiting instructions from the national secretariat. Only the state executive committee can suspend me because of my position within the national executive.”
He added that the suspension of Ortom and others was necessary to prevent anyone from forcibly taking over the party. Ngbede emphasized that the party should not return to past practices of election rigging and malpractices.
When journalists visited the party office on Tuesday, only the suspended chairman, secretary, and organizing secretary were present, planning a state executive committee meeting to potentially ratify Ortom’s suspension.
However, former governor Ortom has claimed that his suspension is invalid. Ortom’s media aide, Terver Akase, stated that Ngbede did not have the authority to call a meeting and that any meeting held without Ortom’s consent was not valid.
Akase said, “Ortom has not been suspended; he is the leader of the party in the state. Any meeting held without his approval is not legitimate. The chairman, secretary, and organizing secretary are suspended, but they don’t have the authority to organize meetings during their suspension.”
Akase also pointed out that Ngbede, who signed the suspension letter, was already suspended at the time, making the letter invalid. He asserted that any meetings not organized by the acting chairman, Isaac Mffo, are void.
Akase further mentioned that the PDP in Benue does not have a faction and reaffirmed that Ortom remains the party leader in the state. He advised the suspended officials to cooperate with the party’s conflict resolution panel to address the issues.
The dispute within the PDP in Benue State involves conflicting claims over leadership and authority, with both sides asserting different views on the legitimacy of recent actions and decisions.
