Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has described the performance of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the November 6, 2021 Governorship Election in Anambra State as a good omen for the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Governor Ortom, who spoke with journalists Wednesday, November 10th, 2021 at the Makurdi Airport, said he had already congratulated the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and Governor-elect, Prof. Charles Soludo on his victory at the polls.
The Governor stated that the brilliant performance of the PDP in the Anambra election is an indication that the party will harness from the experience and plan to do better in 2023.
He explained further that, given the peaceful conduct of the recently concluded PDP 2021 elective National Convention, it was a pointer that the party has been rebranded, re-engineered and is restrategising to takeover leadership at the national level come 2023.
Governor Ortom called on old and intending members of the PDP to revalidate their membership of the party and also register new members, using it’s online portal.
He stressed that the programme will soon be flagged off in Benue State when the national Secretariat gives approval.
Asked to react to the adoption of direct primaries passed by the National Assembly, Governor Ortom noted that as a person, he does not support direct primaries but he’s ready to key in when it becomes a law.
He expressed optimism that the PDP will present grassroots based candidates at all elections to ensure victory for the party.
On the garnishee order placed on the accounts of the State government by an Abuja Federal High Court, Governor Ortom lamented that, though the order was vacated for fourteen days, another Order from an FCT High Court had frozen the accounts of the state and was still in force but expressed hope that it will also be vacated when the matter comes up next Friday.
Governor Ortom lamented the high debt profile of the state from successive administrations and the difficulty in payment of salaries and arrears, saying that his administration will work closely with the new management of the Board of Internal Revenue Service, BIRS to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR to administer the state.
On the 21 day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC to the state government to clear arrears of salaries, the Governor said his administration has been transparent with the management of resources and is open for checks for all to see.
He expressed optimism that the matter will be resolved when he meets with the union leaders to discuss the challenge.
Governor Ortom, who also spoke on alleged seizure of land from a community in Otukpo by military authorities, said he is not aware of the development but will inquire to know, adding however that if there was such issue, the community could report to their representatives for necessary action.
