[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Executive Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has announced his defection from All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor made the announcement at a meeting with elected local government chairmen and councillors on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at the Government House Makurdi, hours after protesting youths barred him from traveling to Abuja to attend the APC reconciliation meeting.The announcement brings to an end months of speculation that the governor will return to the PDP as a result of his disagreement with leaders of the party in Benue and at the national level. His defection follows major political decisions in the state over the last three weeks.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Governor Samuel Ortom’s defection as surprising as according to our source, “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.” With this latest development, APC spokesman has called on its members to remain calm, adding that the party’s leadership are working hard to reach aggrieved members and resolve issues.