President Buhari meets with APC Senators at Villa
By Ayo Kehinde
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday reacted to the defection of the Benue State Governor, H.E. Samuel Ioraer Ortom from the Party, describing it as “somewhat surprising.”
The governor had earlier in the day announced his defection from the party after a group of youths, blocked his convoy en route to Abuja to attend a meeting with the leadership of the party. The meeting was scheduled to settle the rift between him and Senator George Akume, the APC leader in the state whom the governor in a publicly announcement recently, said had issued him a ‘red card’ from the party.
He defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, claiming that his ward chairman would soon follow suit.
In a swift reaction to the defection, the party in a statement by National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said effort were still ongoing by the National Chairman of the Party, Adams Oshiomhole, to resolve the dispute affecting the cohesion of the party in the state, adding that efforts would still be sustained to wade into the matter.
He said: “The Party recalls efforts made by the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to address some of the grievances raised by the Benue State Governor pertaining to the local politics in Benue State.
“The Governor had left the meeting saying he was satisfied with the assurances given by Party leaders. We are still working on giving effect to the resolutions from the meeting. Therefore, we are somewhat surprised by Governor Ortom’s decision.
“The Party reiterates its earlier position that it respects the rights of every citizen to chose their political affiliation but expresses hope that those who have left the Party will rescind their decisions.
“Even with this development, we don’t think it is too late for reconciliation. We have to continue to talk. As long as people keep their minds open and have the courage to put the real issues on the table, reconciliation is still possible.
“We once again call on members across the country to remain calm as the Party leadership continues to work hard to position the Party strongly for the next general elections.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, was holding a meeting with Senators elected on the platform of the party at the Presidential Villa as at the time of going to press with this report. He is said to making a last ditch effort to stop the gale of defection of members of his party, which swept through the National Assembly on Tuesday, to the opposition PDP.
