Benue State PDP gubernatorial candidates say Governor Ortom is not welcome back to the party

BENUE State governor Samuel Ortom looks set to remain in the All Progressives Congress (APC) after 13 of the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) gubernatorial aspirants kicked against him returning to their fold.

Last week, Governor Ortom had announced he was leaving the ruling APC, apparently frustrated with the lack of government action to address the continued menace of herdsmen. More than any other state in Nigeria, Benue has been the victim of hundreds of brutal attacks from Fulani herdsmen who raid rural villages, leaving hundreds dead in their wake.

Also, the governor had been involved in a bitter spat with one of his predecessors Senator George Akume, the leader of the party in the state. However, the AOPC chairman Adams Oshiomole intervened in the matter and following a meeting in Abuja, Governor announced that he was rescinding his decision.

It now appears that the die is cast and the governor can no longer return to the PDP even if he wants to as the party has said he is not welcome in their midst. Before defecting to the APC prior to the 2015 elections, Governor Ortom had been a staunch member of the PDP but upon leaving he beat the party's candidate at the polls.

At a briefing in Abuja today, the 13 aspirants said while they were not against the return of defectors, they were against people with negative values. They then went ahead to describe Governor Ortom as a liability.

John Tondu, one of the aspirants, said: “The governor of Benue State today is a liability, not an asset. He’s not welcome.”