Samuel Ortom, former governor of Benue state, says he worked against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election because it abandoned justice and fairness.
Background
The opposition party has been battling internal divisions that began in the lead-up to the 2023 general election and ultimately contributed to its defeat at the polls.
A major point of contention was the outcome of the party’s presidential primary in May 2022, which some party members alleged was manipulated by Iyorchia Ayu, the former national chairman, to favour Atiku Abubakar, a northerner.
At the time, some party members were advocating for a southern presidential candidate, arguing that power should rotate away from the north, as former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, was completing his second term.
A group of five governors known as the Integrity Group (G5 governors), led by Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers at the time, refused to back Abubakar’s candidacy during the election.
Wike, who contested in the presidential primary, lost to Abubakar.
‘PDP Didn’t Uphold Equity, Fairness’
Speaking in an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, Ortom claimed that the PDP failed to uphold fairness and equity by not unanimously backing a southern candidate.
“We had thought the PDP would uphold equity, fairness, and justice. But unfortunately, they did not,” he said.
“I couldn’t understand how, after eight years of a northern presidency, the party would support another northern candidate.”
Ortom, who was a member of the then-G5 governors, withdrew support for Abubakar in the election and backed Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
“For us in the G5, it was about equity. We believed the presidency should go to the south. That was why I worked against the PDP in 2023,” Ortom said.
“Even if I lost my senatorial election after serving eight years as governor, it didn’t matter. I wanted it to be known that there are still people who believe in justice, equity, and fairness.
“Politics is selfish. When your interests are not protected, you look elsewhere. Yes, Wike is my friend, we worked together, and he remains my friend.”
Ortom said that although he chaired the PDP panel, which recommended throwing the presidential ticket open instead of zoning it to the south, he could not override the collective will of the committee members.
Ortom added that the final decision rested with the party’s national executive committee (NEC).
“I was chairman of the zoning committee, but I couldn’t override what the majority wanted. I simply reported the committee’s position to the NEC, and they chose to throw the ticket open,” he said.
Ortom said he is committed to supporting a southern presidential candidate in 2027 to ensure the zone completes eight years.
He said that if the PDP fields a presidential candidate from the north, he may back a candidate from another party.
He said Abubakar and the PDP leadership didn’t provide an inclusive environment for members who supported Wike.
“That’s why we went different ways. Wike supported Tinubu, and I supported Peter Obi. Others chose their own path. That’s how we ended up with the current government,” Ortom said.
