October 14, (THEWILL) – In recent times, the struggle between the two power blocs to control the state structure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Benue has heightened tension in the camps of former Governors, Gabriel Suswam and Chief Samuel Ortom.
The display of political dexterity within the PDP in the state has left watchers to conclude who is in charge. While Senator Suswam seeks to gain control in order to boost his ambition of succeeding Dr Iyorchia Ayu as the National Chairman, Chief Ortom is considering the opposite option.
In the arguments, senator Suswam is alluding to the fact that he is most suitable as Ayu’s replacement having gathered political experience, serving as two times a member of the House of Representatives, two terms as Governor and a one-time senator of the Federal Republic and one of the founding members of the party.
At several Stakeholders fora, Suswam insisted that Dr Ayu is from Benue and has to be succeeded by a Benue person as the party had earlier zoned the position to North Central and Benue had a shot, therefore, come October 24th, stakeholders will consider him for the position and not by election.
However, Chief Ortom’s camp has deflated Suswam’s assertions on the ground that Dr Ayu comes from Jemgbagh bloc in Benue North West and not from East where Senator Suswam hails from. Backed by G-14, they endorsed Engr Terhide Utaan as Ayu’s replacement.
This fierce battle appears to have divided the party into camps with others loyal to Senator Suswam and former Governor Samuel Ortom. In the dramatic turn of events, the Chief Ortom group alleged that they were blocked access to the PDP state Secretariat along Oturkpo Road, Makurdi, which is the property of Senator Suswam, and Chief Ortom had donated one of his apartments at Oracle Business venture as temporarily shield for PDP, an allegation that Suswam denied knowledge of.
The most recent drama was the elections into Ward, Local Government and State Congresses of the party in the state. In all of these, the Suswam group faulted the exercises and held them in court but got dismissed.
In the forgoing, two parallel State Congresses led by Senator Suswam and Chief Ortom were held last week during which Rt. Hon. Ezekiel Adaji from Chief Ortom’s camp was elected state Chairman, while that of Suswam’s camp produced Mr Chris Abah, alias Mad Lion as their Chairman.
In the wake of the tussle, the PDP National Working Committee had approved both the Ward, Local Government Congresses under the control of the party Leader, Chief Samuel Ortom, with the latest being the approval of the Benue State Congress and election of the Executive Committee Members of the party held on 3rd October, 2024 in Makurdi which produced Rt. Hon. Ezekiel Adaji as State Chairman.
The letter of approval was sent to the Benue State Chapter of the PDP and signed by the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Hon. Umar Bature, congratulated the Ezekiel Adaji-led State Executive Committee and expressed optimism that the new party officials in the state will steer its affairs to future successes.
The letter reads in parts: Following the successful conduct of the State Congress of our Party in Benue State on Thursday October 3rd 2024, for the purpose of electing new State Executive Committee Members, the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after giving careful consideration to the reports of the Electoral Committee and the Appeal Panel, has, on behalf of the National Executive Committee(NEC) of the Party, approved the State Congress and the Executive Committee Members who emerged therefrom.
“Accordingly, I hereby forward to you the authentic list of the newly elected State Executives for Benue State as attached herein. These shall be the new State Exco members in Benue State and shall hold office for a period of four years pursuant to Section 47(1) of our Party’s Constitution, 2017 as amended”, it stated.
Commenting on this development, a Political Scientist, Dr Fanen Gbaka, said any of the PDP faction whose election was not supervised by the National Secretariat of the party and INEC is null and void, calling on all to close ranks and start working ahead of 2027 general elections.
