Ortom dumps Wike, says Ayu’ll remain as PDP chair

Governors Wike, Ortom and Ikpeazu on Friday August 26, 2022 in Port Harcourt

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said he was not in support of the removal of National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

Ortom said it is impossible for him to advocate the removal of someone he worked tirelessly, alongside other prominent citizens of Benue State to be elected.

The governor made this known via a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur.

Ortom, who is close ally of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, made this known in reaction to accusations by a group, Jemgbagh Development Association, that he was involved in the ouster moves against Ayu, who is from Benue State.

The Star recalls that Wike, who lost the party’s presidential primaries to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in May, and his supporters had called for the removal of Ayu as PDP chairman.

Wike maintained that it is injustice for northerners to hold the two major positions of the party.

READ ALSO: Wike: Atiku’s supporters are his enemies

The governor and his associates had demanded the resignation of Ayu as a condition for them to campaign for Atiku ahead of the 2023 general election.

They insisted that Ayu must resign his position, adding that they should be allowed to choose his successor.

However, Governor Ortom, on Monday, said Ayu is capable to lead the party to victory in the 2023 general election.

He stated that it was known to many that he worked tirelessly to ensure that Ayu was elected “as the national chairman of our great party even against all odds.”

“The governor could not, therefore, turn around to work against him to be removed from office.

“Governor Ortom vouched for the integrity and capacity of Dr Iyorchia Ayu to lead and rebuild the PDP to victory and rescue Nigeria from the misrule of the APC maladministration.

“That is why Ayu was returned unopposed by the northern caucus of the party and got elected as the national chairman of the PDP at the party’s convention.

“Where was Jemgbagh Development Association, when Governor Ortom galvanised support from across the leaders of the party to make Dr. Ayu PDP’s National Chairman?

“What was their contribution to that project that they now want to use clannish stance to blackmail the governor?” the statement added.

The Star