The immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, former Governor of the state, Senator Gabriel Suswam and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, Monday urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to work for the unity of the party in the state.
The PDP leaders made the call during the PDP expanded caucus meeting, held at the State Secretariat of the party in Makurdi.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Ortom told party members that he, Senator Suswam and Senator Moro had resolved to intensify efforts in uniting and mobilizing members of the party to make it stronger, stressing that there was no friction amongst them.
He urged PDP members to dismiss the rumour that he was leaving the PDP, saying that he had no such intention and had not been approached by any member of another political party to join them.
Chief Ortom further said while members support those in authority at the state and federal level to provide dividends of democracy, they must not lose sight of the fact that they are PDP members, and must play their role as a credible and constructive opposition.
Earlier, Senator Suswam called on party members not to dwell on the mistakes of the past, but learn from such mistakes in order for the party to move forward and record successes in future elections.
He stressed that leaders of the party in the state had closed ranks to be able to build the party and ensure that it returns to power in 2027.
Senate Minority Leader, Senator Moro urged party members to remain steadfast and committed as the good old days of the party were coming back.
He disclosed that those waiting to see squabbles between the PDP leaders in Benue State would be disappointed as Chief Ortom, Senator Suswam and himself had resolved to work as a team, in the interest of the party.
The governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2023 elections, Rt. Hon Titus Uba appreciated party members for finding him and his running mate, Sir John Ngbede, worthy to fly the party’s flag, and added that the party needs to be united to be a credible and formidable opposition.
The Minority Leader of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Audu, disclosed that members of the PDP in the State Assembly are united and ready to support the party at all times.
Chief David Amo, who spoke for Zone ‘A’, Elder Laha Dzever for Zone ‘B’ and Rt. Hon Hassan Saleh for Zone ‘C’ all stressed the need for unity and expressed optimism that PDP would bounce back.
Former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and member of PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Mrs. Margareth Icheen, the state Woman Leader of the party, Mrs. Abeje Ewa and the youth representative Idu Banke all commended leaders of the party in the state for coming together to make the party stronger, ahead of 2027.