The Peoples Democratic Party has appointed a 17-member caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs in Benue State. The committee, led by Gen. Napoleon Bali (retd.), has been tasked with settling the internal crisis within the Benue PDP, particularly the feud between former governors Samuel Ortom and Gabriel Suswam.
Following the ward congress, the Benue PDP became divided, leading to the suspension and counter-suspension of party leaders. A group supporting Ortom recently suspended the Benue PDP Chairman, John Ngbede, along with the Secretary and Organising Secretary.
In response, the party’s State Working Committee, loyal to Suswam, also suspended Ortom. This action caused Ortom’s supporters to call for a probe into Suswam’s alleged anti-party activities.
Amidst the ongoing tensions, the PDP National Working Committee dissolved the State Working Committee members whose terms had ended and decided to form a caretaker committee to oversee the party in the state.
During the inauguration of the caretaker committee in Abuja, PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum stressed the importance of prioritizing the party’s interests over personal agendas. Damagum expressed confidence in the committee chairman’s conflict resolution abilities, given his background as a retired general.
Chairman Bali, promising impartiality, emphasized the unity of the party as the highest priority. He stated, “It is not about Ortom or Suswam, but about unity with God’s grace.”
Damagum outlined the committee’s duty to facilitate a new executive team during the ongoing congress. He urged the members to set aside personal interests for the greater good of the party in Benue State, emphasizing the need for reconciliation and progress.
Bali confidently declared that the PDP would regain control of Benue State in 2027, expressing optimism in the committee’s ability to work as a cohesive unit toward this goal.