Scores of All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders from Mbadwem Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State yesterday defected and join Governor Samuel Ortom in the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
They met at the residence of Elder Edward Iorkyaa, where they announced the decision. The stakeholders also burnt brooms to signify that they have parted way with the broom party.
The Mbadwem stakeholders named Ortom's unwavering stance against Fulani attacks, persecution from the APC and the governor's developmental drive as some of the reasons that informed their decision
Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Emmanuel Shior, was pleased with the decision of his kinsmen to join forces with Governor Ortom.
He observed that though they had been in the APC, the spate of attacks on the state by armed Fulani herdsmen received little attention from the APC controlled Federal Government.
According to Shior, the party's leaders in the state appear to have taken side with the killers. He further noted that some of the Governor's appointees were imposed on him as they made efforts to frustrate the governor's policy drive, prompting Ortom to defect to the PDP.
Shior announced that he is in total agreement with his kinsmen over the decision and has also defected with them into the PDP saying, he has full confidence in the ability and capacity of the Governor to deliver democratic dividends to the people of the state.
The SEMA boss noted that whoever that is not standing with the governor is against the governor.
Hon Edward Iorkyaa, a former Commissioner in the state, who hosted the stakeholders said he is impressed with the good work of Governor Ortom.
He said Ortom has done nothing wrong to warrant the persecution he is facing in the APC and is right in taking the bold decision to leave the party in the interest of the state saying, he cannot afford to be left behind.
Also speaking, erstwhile state lawmaker and member of Board, Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) Hon Nanev Uhondu, said Ortom deserves their support given his record achievements. He noted that as a result of that, he will go with his kinsmen to strengthen support for the Governor.
On his part Hon Vincent Shagbaor, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture observed that Ortom's efforts in the face of Fulani attacks on the state have led to some of the displaced persons returning home for agricultural activities.
The Councilor representing Mbadwem Council Ward Hon Clement Girgi, said although he won election on the platform of the APC, he is disappointed with the actions of the party leaders in the state and the attitude of President Buhari to the security situation in the state.
He commended Governor Ortom for what he described as bold decision to defect from APC, saying, it was in the interest of the state.
The Guma Local Government Area chairman of the APC Hon Gbe, said the party's executive council in the area cannot afford to work at variance with Governor Ortom. He said he was mobilising his council members to openly decamp and join the Governor in the PDP.
Hon Japan Natyav, Hon Tyoughlu, Hon Nicodemus Akombu, Hon Thompson Atorugh, Hon Clement Umenger, Hon Joe Bam all expressed their unwavering support for the governor.
They argued that the Governor's administration has favoured them by appointing their sons in key government offices.
According to them, at no point in time they have worked against their sons who are appointed into government positions and this time will not be different.They added that Ortom deserves their support so that he will continue in office and see to full implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing Law 2017 saying, anybody that is against the governor is an enemy of the state.More photos below.
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