The governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, has dismissed his rumoured plans to jettison the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ortom was one of the APC governors that opted to dump the ruling party by defecting to the main opposition PDP shortly before the 2019 general elections and eventually picked the PDP governorship ticket and won the main election to retain his seat as governor.
However, following Monday’s visit to the Presidential Villa where he met with President Muhammadu Buhari, there have been speculations that he intends to dump the PDP and return to the APC.
But in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary Terver Akase, the governor debunked the rumour instead stating that he enjoys a robust relationship with other PDP leaders and members at the state and national levels, and was therefore not considering defecting to the APC.
To disabuse the minds of his loyalists on the rumour, the governor explained that his visit to the President on Monday was to discuss state matters, and to particularly to give him an update on the security situation in his state.
Further, Ortom said he told the president the efforts the state government has been making to guarantee peace in all parts of the state as well as its borders with other states such as Taraba and Ebonyi.
“We wish to advise those spreading the rumour and misleading people to know that President Buhari is not an APC President. He is the President of the whole Nigeria across party divides. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the country’s armed forces and receives periodic briefings from State Governors and other stakeholders.
“The Benue electorate has also indicated clearly from the results of the last general election that the PDP remains their preferred political party. Governor Ortom always stands with his people and this, he will continue to do.
“Politics is over. Now is time for governance to ensure that development gets to the people. We advise those making unfounded speculations and fanning embers of discord to allow Governor Ortom and President Buhari to synergise where possible and concentrate on strategizing to ensure the security of lives and property as well as general welfare of the people.”
