Samuel Ortom, Benue State Governor, has confirmed that he has been offered an invitation to rejoin his former political party, the All Progressives Congress.
The Governor made this known during the state congress of the Peoples Democratic Party held at Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi. The Governor said that after duly conferring with some of his close allies and the PDP state congress, he has turned down the offer.
“It is true that the APC has invited me to come back to APC and they are propagating that (he is leaving the PDP) and this is far from the truth. I told them I’ll come and ask you (the state congress); Do you want me to decamp to APC?”
In a direct response to the question as to whether he would accept the invite, the Governor said
“No, no, no”, and it prompted the governor to say, “So, I am comfortable with my people (PDP) and I’ll remain in the PDP and I will communicate this to my friends in the APC. I will tell them that I consulted with you and you asked me not to leave.”
The Benue State Governor is one of the high profile politicians who joined the mass defection wave in 2018, a move which saw him dump the All Progressives Congress for the People’s Democratic Party. With the defection of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara and recent rumours suggesting that former Senate President, Bukola Saraki could be on his way back to the APC, much speculation has been fueled regarding a possible return for Ortom as well.
It appears the Governor has now put the speculations to bed as he has re-asserted his commitment to paddling his political career with the PDP.