I worked against PDP in 2023 because of Atiku-Ex-Governor Ortom

Former Governor of the State of Benue, Samuel Ortom, has defended his decision to oppose the people’s Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 general election, quoting the alleged party failure to uphold the principles of justice, justice, and justice.

According to him, the plan was to make southern candidates emerge as president, but the party betrayed the aspiration.

Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Thursday, Ortom, who remained a member of the PDP, said he could not support a good conscience, a party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. He associated his establishment with what he described as an internal betrayal and neglect of the consensus process.

“I oppose PDP in the last election only because I believe the party will support justice, justice, and justice, the principles that unfortunately they do not uphold,” Ortom said.

The former governor revealed that he was part of the 20 -member committee formed by the PDP to recommend a suitable partner for the presidential candidate. According to him, 16 committee members, including himself, voted supporting the Governor of the State Rivers, Nyesom Wike. However, the recommendation was finally ignored.

“Somehow, candidates and those who are in the leadership position in the party decided to work against it,” he said, referring to Wike.

Ortom, a prominent member of the G5 G5, a group of five influential PDP governors who opposed Atiku’s nomination, stressed that their pushback was rooted in the demand for electric rotation to South Nigeria.

“While the G5 agenda is also about interests, our initial goal is to have a southern candidate, and I am happy that the southern candidate finally appears as president,” he added.

His statement came in the midst of the ongoing internal consideration in the PDP regarding the restructuring and direction of the party in the future after his defeat in the 2023. G5 Presidential Election, which consisted of Governors from Benue, Rivers, Oyo, Abia, and the State Enugu at that time, openly away from the PDP Presidential Campaign, for the reason of similar concerns.