Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has blamed the current turmoil within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on ineffective leadership and weak organisational control by its top hierarchy.
Fresh division erupted in the party over the weekend when a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, declared the suspension of the National Chairman, Umar Damagum, along with five members of the National Working Committee.
Responding to the development, Ortom, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, revealed that he had earlier met with the party’s leadership to offer guidance on how to peacefully address internal disagreements but regretted that his advice was disregarded.
He explained that the Damagum-led team failed to seize a vital opportunity to strengthen unity and place collective progress above personal ambitions.
In a statement released through his media aide on Sunday, November 2, Ortom stated, “Democracy thrives when people of diverse views and interests come together to find common ground for the good of all.
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“It is, therefore, the responsibility of leaders to harmonise differing opinions and create a sense of belonging among members.”
He added, “Unfortunately, what we have witnessed in recent times is an attempt by a few individuals to run the party without recourse to collective consultation or internal democratic processes.”
Ortom recalled that the PDP had faced many internal battles in the past but always regained stability through fairness, dialogue, and inclusiveness.
He congratulated the new Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, describing his emergence as an opportunity to rebuild unity and restore confidence within the party.
The former governor also appealed to Abdulrahman to work in synergy with the Board of Trustees and other organs of the PDP to strengthen reconciliation and inclusivity, noting that the party’s true power rests in its diversity and shared vision.
He emphasised that as Nigeria’s foremost opposition, the PDP must continue to serve as a watchdog to ensure accountability and defend democratic ideals.