Benue PDP Crisis Deepens As Pro Ortom/Suswam Groups Suspend SWC Members

Internal crisis rocking the opposition, the People Democratic Party in Benue State has assumed a new dimension, with a two-thirds majority of the state working committee, allegedly loyal to former Governor Samuel Ortom, passing a vote of no- no-confidence on the state chairman, John Ngbede, the secretary, Joseph Nyam and the organising secretary, Moses Audu.

The trio have been suspended for one month after being accused of imposing their interests and preferences on the party during the conduct of the ward congresses in Benue state on the 27th of July.

They were also believed to be loyal to former governor Gabriel Suswam.

The party has equally suspended former governor, Samuel Ortom, the state publicity secretary, Bemgba Iortyom and two others, on allegations of anti-party activities.

In a letter dated 5th August and addressed to the acting PDP national chairman, the faction loyal to former governor Samuel Ortom and signed by the state publicity secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, said the nine members out of the thirteen state working committee rose from a meeting on 3rd August 2024, where they reviewed the activities of the state chairman, secretary and organising Secretary, and found that they mismanaged the ward’s congresses by disregarding the guidelines and impose their self-interest.

Hence, the party said they could no longer be entrusted with the responsibility to superintend over the coming local government and state congresses in the state.

In a swift response, the faction believed to be loyal to former governor Gabriel Suswam in a letter on 5th August and signed by the suspended state secretary, Joseph Nyam, accused Ortom, Bemgba Iortyom, the state deputy chairman, Isaac Mffo and the Zone A Vice Chairman, Azua Ashongo of snatching ballot materials in several local government areas during the July 27th ward congresses, and suspended them.

The intra-party crisis began way back when Samuel Ortom was still the governor of Benue state, but picked a fight with the 2023 presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar over his disposition to key policy issues, and his allegiance to the former governor of River state and now FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.

This led to disagreement with the ranks of the party as the fight affected the then national chairman, Iyorcha Ayu whom the Pro-Wike group of G5 governors where Ortom is a key figure, moved to remove him from office, a feat achieved a few weeks after the general elections.

This led the then-governor to openly move against the likes of former governor Suswam, Senator Emmanuel Oker’Jev, Senator Abba Moro and Ayu.