Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has refuted reports claiming that he has been suspended from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Ortom dismissed the suspension reports, emphasizing that they hold no validity.
According to his media aide, Tever Akase, Ortom stated that the Benue PDP Chairman, John Ngbede, lacked the authority to organize a meeting to suspend any member.
Akase pointed out that Ngbede himself had been suspended for a duration of one month.
“Ortom’s suspension is baseless. As the party’s leader in the state, any meeting convened or ongoing without his approval is invalid,” Akase clarified.
However, Ngbede stood by the decision to suspend the former governor from the PDP.
Speaking to reporters at the party’s headquarters in Makurdi, Ngbede alleged that Ortom’s suspension was a consequence of his bid to seize control of the PDP leadership in the state.
Ngbede asserted, “The former governor was indeed suspended by the State Working Committee of the party. We will not tolerate individuals attempting to forcefully assume leadership within the party.”
“The party is for the people, and we are dedicated to upholding democratic principles. We will resist any return to past practices where election materials were manipulated. The essence of the congress should be felt by the populace,” Ngbede added.