2023: Ortom moves to deescalate PDP crisis over VP choice, says he is behind Atiku

By our reporter| Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom on Monday moved to deescalate the crisis that has rocked the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its choice of vice presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

The PDP had struggled to carry a section of the party leadership along following the decision of the party’s flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar to pick Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate ahead of Nyesom Wike, the Rivers state governor, believed to be the choice of many party faithful.

The Benue state governor, who chaired the VP selection committee, had last month said 14 out of 17 members of the panel raised by the party to recommend a vice presidential candidate, chose Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, over Okowa.

He further added that he would support Atiku’s presidential bid only if God directs him.

But reacting to the claim by Ortom during an interview on Arise TV on Friday, Atiku had said the panel did not undertake a voting process and that although the committee recommended three names, which included Wike and Okowa, the panel did not vote at any time.

Given the opportunity to respond to Atiku’s comment on Monday, Ortom explained that the events of the selection process are in the past, saying he will not contradict the statement made by Atiku on the process that led to the selection of Okowa.

Ortom, who stated that he is ‘behind Atiku’, and that the PDP is a family, further explained that the party’s internal crisis will be settled amicably.

“I will not contradict Atiku on what he said. He is my candidate and I am behind him,” Ortom tweeted on Monday afternoon.

“Whatever happened in the course of the primaries and nomination of the Presidential running mate is now a thing of the past.

“PDP is a family, and we will always settle our matters in-house.”

Ortom had a few days ago, disclosed that Atiku had expressed his intention to meet with Wike in an effort to resolve the lingering crisis.

“Our presidential candidate has reached out to me to further persuade governor Wike that he’s coming to see him, they’ll sit down and discuss. For me, once that is done, that is the end of it,” he said.