How Ortom intends to play the game remains unclear, especially because the Benue governor and Atiku’s election will be held the same day
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has withdrawn support for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Ortom claims Atiku has been rallying behind Fulani herdsmen against the Benue people.
Ortom is contesting to become senator on the PDP platform. The presidential and Senatorial elections, including the House of Representatives, hold the same day. Many voters may find it problematic to differentiate between the ballot paper or ballot box for the presidential, senatorial or House of Reps. The trick politicians always employed is to mobilise their supporters to vote along party lines. How Ortom intends to play the game remains unclear, especially because the Benue governor and Atiku’s election will be held the same day, hence, likely to share in the same political fate in Ortom’s constituency.
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But Ortom said he will not support Atiku because he was neither chosen nor consulted in the PDP’s national campaign team. He also said members of the campaign team from Benue state were selected without his consent or approval.
“I am not in his campaign team. The people they appointed there had no consent from me. So I’ll remain on my own. But I’m waiting; when the election comes, we shall vote accordingly in the election,” Mr Ortom said on Tuesday.
Mr Ortom chided the PDP presidential flag bearer for his recent comments on the most recent killings in the state by suspected herdsmen.
He accused Mr Atiku of dishonouring his office as governor and working against the interests of the Benue people.
Mr Atiku earlier said Benue state’s description of the suspected herdsmen amounted to the profiling of the Fulani ethnic group.
“It was not correct for a presidential candidate who is seeking to rule the people to say that kind of thing,” Mr Ortom said. He added, “It was very wrong. And it would appear that he doesn’t even reference me and consider me to be a governor of my state.”
Mr Ortom is now the latest PDP governor not supporting the presidential bid of Mr Atiku, joining the clique of Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Nyesom Wike of Rivers.
