Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has accused the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of contempting a standing court order by referring him to the party’s disciplinary committee for alleged anti‑party activities. Ortom argued that the party leadership is ignoring a court injunction that bars any organ of the PDP from imposing disciplinary measures against him.
The controversy follows the NWC’s recent decision to suspend several members, including former Senate President Pius Anyim, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, Professor Dennis Ityavyar of Benue, and Dr. Aslam Aliyu of Zamfara. In the same resolution, the party also referred Ortom to its National Disciplinary Committee over the alleged anti‑party conduct.
Reacting to the development through his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, Ortom said, “The case is pending in court, and there is an injunction restraining any organ of the party from taking disciplinary action against the governor. The case is adjourned to 18 April 2023, so it is baffling to see such a statement from the national leadership.” He added that the party’s national leadership appears to have lost its sense of direction, choosing to chase “imaginary shadows” instead of focusing on rebuilding the party after its recent electoral defeat.
Ortom further suggested that the first person the party should refer to the disciplinary committee is its national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who, according to Ortom, lost his polling unit, ward, local government area, and even his state. He claimed there are strong indications that the national chairman was involved in anti‑party activities in Benue State, allegedly working for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to target Ortom because of his principled stance against certain decisions of the party’s national leadership.
The governor concluded by warning that the party must not be allowed to be ridiculed by individuals seeking to destroy it for selfish gains.
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