The People Democratic Party in Benue State is experiencing an internal crisis that has taken on new dimensions. The state working committee, which is made up primarily of members who are purportedly loyal to former Governor Samuel Ortom, voted to remove the party’s chairman, John Ngbede, secretary, Joseph Nyam, and organizing secretary, Moses Audu.
The three have been suspended for a month after it was alleged that they forced their preferences and interests on the party on July 27 during the Benue state ward congresses.
Additionally, it was thought that they supported previous governor Gabriel Suswam.
Due to accusations of anti-party activity, the party has also suspended two additional people, Bemgba Iortyom, the state publicity secretary, and former governor Samuel Ortom.
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 internal party conflict started back when Samuel Ortom was still the governor of Benue state. He got into a fight with PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in 2023 over his stance on important policy matters and his loyalty to Nyesom Wike, the former governor of River state who is currently the minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
