Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue State has reaffirmed his endorsement of Peter Obi of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s Saturday presidential poll. He had earlier on 16 February announced he was taking sides with the LP against his party.
Ortom is one of the main opposition PDP renegade G5 Governors who distanced themselves from their party’s candidate, Abubakar Atiku’s campaign, citing inequities against southern Nigeria in their party.
Other G5 governors are leaning towards other candidates too.
The latest Ortom’s reaffirmation of endorsement of Obi came on Monday when he played host to the Igbo community in the state at Makurdi. The community conferred on him the traditional title of Agu na eche mba I of Ndi Igbo.
The governor said he believes in the unity and oneness of Nigeria and has the mandate of “my own people, stakeholders, traditional rulers, party people across all political party lines” to throw his weight behind Peter Obi.
“Obi’s candidacy is not about PDP, APC or any other party, it’s about Nigeria”, he added.
Ortom will step down as governor on May 29 but is also standing for election into the senate under the PDP. The senatorial election will hold the same day as the presidential.
Underscoring the depth of his commitment to the Labour candidate, he remarked, “But if I’m to sacrifice my senatorial ambition for Peter Obi to win, so shall it be.”
PDP Gov Sam Ortom of Benue State reaffirms his previous endorsement of Peter Obi of the Labour Party for president of Nigeria in Saturday’s crucial polls.
Leave a Reply