We’ve no faction in PDP – Ortom
…says Damagum-led NWC has done well amid challenges
The immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, says there are no factions in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, contrary to insinuations in some quarters.
He maintained that the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee of the party is the recognised leadership of the party and anything to the contrary is not of the party.
The former governor, who made the assertion when he hosted members of the newly elected Benue State Working Committee, SWC, of the party in his Makurdi residence, stated that the Damagum-led NWC had done its best amid a crisis in the party.
He maintained that rather than castigate the leadership, they should be supported and prayed for.
Cheif Ortom said: “There is no faction in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and we remain committed to equity, fairness, and justice. I have not drifted from that, and we are committed and loyal to the party.
“We do not want to be a dissident group, and we do not belong to a dissident group. And so we support the Damagun-led National Working Committee, NWC, of our party. They have done their best; they are not perfect, and no one is perfect.
“They have done their best in the mist of the challenges we have in the PDP. They should be commended rather than anybody castigating them.
“If there are issues, there are various organs of the leadership of the party to address such. The Board of Trustees, BOT, is there, the Governors’ Forum is there, the National Executive Committee, NEC, is there, and the National Working Committee, NWC, itself is there, including other stakeholders. If there are issues, they should be discussed at this level.
“They have done well, and they have done their best. If there are issues, we have the constitution of our party to look at it.
“So I see no reason to castigate them; they have done well. So we will stand with them and continue to work under their directive and work for them and pray for them until otherwise.”
Earlier, Benue State PDP Chairman Chief Adaji expressed gratitude to Chief Ortom for his efforts in strengthening the party and steering it back to reckoning.
He also disclosed plans by the State Working Committee to develop and rebuild the party to secure victory in future elections.
The chairman, who reaffirmed the commitment of members of the SWC to the party’s success, thanked the party’s supporters for their faith in the leadership and promised not to let them down.