In a continuation of the tit-for-tat in the worsening political relationship between the immediate past governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom and his predecessor, Sen. Gabriel Suswam, the State Executive Committee (NEC) of the People’s Democratic Party loyal to Sen. Suswam has ratified the purported suspension of Dr. Samuel Ortom and three of his loyalists from the party.
The loyalists suspended are two deputy chairmen, Issac Mffo and Azua Ashongo as well as the Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom.
The State Executive Committee at its meeting held on Tuesday at the State Party Secretariat also passed a vote of Confidence on the state chairman of the party, Sir John Ngbede as well as the Secretary, Joe Nyam, and the Organising Secretary, Moses Audu, who the group loyal to Chief Ortom had earlier purportedly suspended.
The suspension and counter suspension in the Benue State chapter of the party started on Monday when Mr. Iortyom on behalf of the State Working Committee (SWC) announced the suspension of three of its members from office for one month.
He announced that the decision was taken at an extraordinary meeting of the State Working Committee of the party held on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, where 9 out of 13 members were present and assented to the decision.
Iortyom accused the affected officials, among other things of forging and impersonating the State Working Committee to achieve their individual political objectives, instigating violence and crisis during the just concluded ward congresses of the party, and mismanaging the finances of the party.
In a swift reaction, another statement signed by C.T Hwande, a Media Consultant to the party, announced the suspension of Chief Ortom, Bemgba Iortyom, Isaac Mffo, and Azua Ashongo on allegations of anti-party activities.
At the Tuesday meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) attended by members of the State Working Committee, 16 of the 23 local government party
chairmen, all the Assistant State officials, North Central Zonal officials of the party from the state, and other stakeholders, the SEC through a unanimous voice vote, upon a motion moved to that effect by the PDP Chairman, Katsina-Ala local government area passed a vote of Confidence on Sir Ngbede.,
Moving the motion, Hon. Alfred Iorpav,
Katsina-Ala local government area party Chairman said, that those who want Sir Ngbede out are “ambivalent fifth columnists who do not mean well for the party”, and said they will not succeed.
The meeting also ratified the suspension of Chief Ortom and Ashongo as well as that of Bemgba Iortyom and Isaac Mffo, who they accused of allegedly snatching electoral materials meant for the July 27 Ward Congresses in Ushongo and Buruku local government areas respectively.
Speaking with newsmen at the party Secretariat on Tuesday, Sir Ngbede insisted that he is still chairman of the party and that only the National Executive Committee has the power to suspend him.
In his reaction, however, Chief Ortom through his media aide, Terver Akase, stated that a suspended chairman has no power to suspend him as leader of the party in the State.
The battle for the soul of the Benue PDP between the two former governors and political heavyweights is continuing and more fireworks are expected, with the local government congresses just 3 days away.
Already, the Samuel Ortom group has summoned Sen. Gabriel Suswam, Chief Terngu Tsegba, Hon. Terseer Tsumba, Prof. Nicholas Ada, and Hon. Richard Gbande to appear before it and give reason(s) why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for what they call gross misconduct and anti-party activities.