CROSS CARPETING: Ortom defection to PDP shocks APC

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday formally announced his defection from the All Progessives Congress  to the Peoples Democratic Party.

This is coming a day after the APC lost 13 of its senators and 37 of its House of Representatives members to the PDP, thus giving the majority status to the former ruling party in the Senate.

Ortom made the declaration during the meeting with local government chairmen and their councillors at the new banquet hall of the Government House, Makurdi.

Thirteen local government chairmen and 276 councillors were in attendance.

Ortom, who said that despite the intervention of the national leadership of the APC,  the “state chapter of the party has continued to launch attack on me.”

“This morning, I had wanted to go to Abuja to attend the meeting but some youths in the state refused, they asked me to go back.

“But let me formally inform this gathering that I have forwarded my resignation letter from the APC to the chairman of my council ward and he has promised to join me in the new party,” Ortom declared.

Immediately he announced his resignation from the APC, the governor displayed his resignation letter to the people.

“As I talk to you, 10 out of 17 state lawmakers of the APC are ready to  follow me to the new party. May I formally announce to you that I have formally moved to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,” Ortom declared.

Earlier, the 13 council chairmen and leaders  of the legislative council in attendance promised to follow the governor to the PDP to ensure his re-election aspiration.

But the APC is lamenting Ortom’s defection, saying the party found the governor’s action “somewhat surprising.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party was surprised because efforts were being made by the national leadership of the ruling party to ensure that Ortom did not dump the party.

Abdullahi said. “The party recalls efforts made by the National Chairman,  Adams Oshiomhole, to address some of the grievances raised by the Benue State governor pertaining to the local politics in Benue State.

“The governor had left the meeting saying he was satisfied with the assurances given by party leaders. We are still working on giving effect to the resolutions from the meeting. Therefore, we are somewhat surprised by Governor Ortom’s decision.

“The party reiterates its earlier position that it respects the rights of every citizen to choose their political affiliation but expresses hope that those who have left the party will rescind their decisions.

“Even with this development, we don’t think it is too late for reconciliation. We have to continue to talk. As long as people keep their minds open and have the courage to put the real issues on the table, reconciliation is still possible,” he added.