..exercise ‘ll be hitchfree – Ortom

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has given a go ahead to the Benue State chapter of the party to hold its State Congress slated for Thursday October 3, 2024 in Makurdi as there is no subsisting court order directing otherwise.

This came as a faction of the party led by Senator Gabriel Suswam claimed that the Congress has been put on hold by the order of a Makurdi High Court.

A member of that faction and former House of Representatives member, Terngu Tsegba at a media briefing in Makurdi claimed that following disagreements over the conduct of Ward Congresses of the party in the state, “some members of our party approached the Benue State High Court sitting in Makurdi wherein an order of Interim injunction was issued restraining the PDP,  Iliya Umar Damagum, Umar Bature and Sen. Napoleon Bali led Benue State CTC from conducting the State congresses.”

But countering that claim in a statement Wednesday, the Caretaker Secretary of the party in the state, Osita Ogene clarified that the claim of a subsisting court order stopping the State Congress was false and misleading.

Ogene in the statement said “the State Caretaker Committee of the PDP in Benue State wishes to inform all members of the party and the general public that there is no subsisting court order against the State Congress of the party scheduled for tomorrow October 3, 2024.

“This clarification has become necessary to disperse the mischief and misinformation being spread by some individuals.

“All delegates for the PDP State Congress which is billed to take place in Makurdi tomorrow are expected to arrive SESE Park and Events Centre, opposite New International Market, Makurdi before 8am  when accreditation for the Congress is to commence.

“The Caretaker PDP State Working Committee reassures members of the party of a hitch-free and credible Congress, in line with the enviable traditional of the party.”

Meanwhile former Governor Samuel Ortom has assured that the party would hold a hitch-free State Congress despite the plot of some individuals to destabilize the process.

Chief Ortom in a statement by his Media Aide Terver Akase also corroborated that there was no court order stopping the Congress.

Rhe statement read, “the Leader of PDP in Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom gives assurance that arrangements have been concluded for the smooth conduct of the party’s State Congress scheduled for tomorrow, October 3, 2024.

“Chief Ortom emphasizes that there is currently no court order prohibiting the State Congress of the party. He urges the public to disregard the mischief and misleading information being peddled in town by a few persons.

“Chief Ortom restates the commitment of the party’s leadership in the state to upholding its values and principles at all times.”