*Faction meets LG party chairmen in Makurdi today
By Aondover Tyowase
There is confusion within the ranks of the Benue state chapter of the peoples Democratic Party ,PDP at the moment.
The Governor Samuel Ortom’s faction and that of State Chairman, Sir John Ngbede have suspended each, yet the two suspensions do not appear to have followed the due process as none originated from the ward.
The embattled State Publicity of the PDP, Mr Bemgba Iortyom had announced the suspension of the state Chairman of the party, Sir John Ngbede, the state Secretary ,Dr Joe Nyam and organizing secretary Mr Moses Audu for alleged sponsorship of thuggery, lack of transparency and forgery during the just concluded ward congresses of the party in the state in ten Local Government Councils.
Mr Iortyom also alleged that the suspension of the state chairman, his secretary and organizing secretary is in line with sections 21(4) and 21(5) of the PDP (as amended) which permits a 2/3 majority of members to pass a vote of no-confidence on an erring officer and suspend same.
But in a counter reaction, Sir John Ngbede-led faction did exactly the same when he slammed a one month suspension on the immediate past Governor of the state ,Chief Samuel Ortom over alleged political thuggery activities in the first instance.
The party equally suspended the state Vice chairman, Mr Isaac Mffo, Zone A zonal Chairman, Mr Azua Ashongo and State Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom.
Consequent upon their suspension on grounds of alleged anti-party activity, the State Executive Committee of the party will be holding an emergency session today (August 6, 2024) at the party’s Secretariat for further actions .
The suspension of the former Governor was signed by the party’s state Secretary, Dr Joseph Nyam dated August 5, 2024.
According to the suspension letter, the PDP in Benue state explained that during the Ward Congress held on 27th July, 2024 across the 276 wards in the state, the former state Governor and others suspended were accused of leading thugs to foist violence and snatched election materials in their respective local governments.
The party insisted that the actions of the erring members amounted to anti-party activities, and attracts a one month suspension and recommendation to the state Executive committee for further actions.
The party stated in the suspension letter that the former State Governor and his team orchestrated the violence in Tarka, Guma, Kwande, Buruku, Ushongo, Ohimini and Gboko local Governments.
Governor Ortom hails from Guma, Mr Ashongo hails from Kwande, Bemgba Iortyom hails from Ushongo and Isaac Mffo hails from Buruku local Governments of Benue state.
However, the suspended state publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Iortyom had argued that due process was not followed in the suspension of the former Governor, arguing that the state chairman, Sir John Ngbede was actually the one suspended .
The embattled Iortyom maintained that the State Chairman lacked the powers to suspended the leader of the party, in this case, the former Governor without the approval of his ward chairman.
In his response, Mr Terhemen Hwande, the media consultant to Sir John Ngbede the state chairman of the PDP in Benue state, described Mr Iortyom ‘s assertion as laughable and kick of a dying horse.
Hwande maintained that ‘the State Executive committee of the party will meet today (Tuesday 6, August 2024) at the party secretariat and take further actions on the matter”.
He maintained that the former Governor’s suspension was long overdue and that nobody is above the party.
He pointed out that the suspended members of the party under the seal of the party top officers is valid and stands, and warned Iortyom to stay off the affairs of the party for now.
He added ,”if the suspended state publicity Secretary thinks his suspension is a ruse, then let him come to the secretariat and resume office . We have only one Secretariat in the state and let him come to the office ”
Efforts to get the official reaction of the embattled former Governor Ortom proved unsuccessful as the liness of his media Aides could not go through.
His media Aide, Terver Akase’s phone numbers were switched off at the time of this report, although a close former aide of the Governor told our reporter that the official spokesman was taking lectures at the Benue State University where he is studying.
