Gov. Ortom Dumps APC, Defects To PDP As Protesting Youths Prevent Him From Meeting Buhari

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has announced his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He was originally scheduled to attend a reconciliatory meeting with Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the APC, and other leaders of the party in Abuja in continuation of the party’s efforts to convince him to stay.

However, this could not happen, as youth besieged the Government House and blocked its entrance, consequently preventing him from attending a reconciliatory meeting called by APC leaders in Abuja.

Some of the placards read “Ortom don’t go back to APC,” “We don’t have land to donate for ranching,” “APC is Miyetti party,” Our farms are not for cows,” You must leave APC,” Ortom is our party, ” and “2019: On Ortom we stand.”

To underscore their anger, they ordered that the APC flag should be removed from the Governor’s official car immediately and the Governor’s driver complied.

The spokesmen of the coalition, Terrence Kuanum, and Pastor Dave Ogbole advised the Governor not to make the trip for further discussions with the APC leadership on his membership of the party but to rather look for an alternative platform. They threatened that if he attended the meeting they would vote him out in 2019.