A former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has blamed the lack of cohesion in the management of the Peoples Democratic Party’s internal affairs for the latest crisis rocking the party.
The PDP was thrown into fresh turmoil at the weekend after a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, suspended the National Chairman, Umar Damagum, alongside five other members of the National Working Committee.
Reacting to the development, Ortom, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, said he had previously met with PDP leaders and offered constructive advice on resolving disagreements in a manner that would produce a win-win outcome, but regretted that his counsel was ignored.
According to him, the Damagum-led leadership failed to rise above personal interests and unite the party when the opportunity existed.
In a statement issued by his media aide on Sunday, Ortom said democracy is about inclusion and consensus-building, not high-handedness and exclusion.
“Democracy thrives when people of diverse views and interests come together to find common ground for the good of all. It is, therefore, the responsibility of leaders to harmonise differing opinions and create a sense of belonging among members.
“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,” he said.
Ortom maintained that the PDP had survived many storms in the past and always emerged stronger when fairness, dialogue, and inclusiveness were prioritised.
He congratulated the newly appointed Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, describing his emergence as a fresh opportunity for healing and rebuilding trust.
He urged Abdulrahman and his team to liaise with the Board of Trustees and other organs of the party to initiate genuine reconciliation efforts that would give every member a sense of belonging.
Ortom emphasised that the PDP’s strength lies in its diversity, collective wisdom, and democratic culture, and called on stakeholders to support the new leadership.
He added that, as Nigeria’s main opposition party, the PDP must provide credible alternatives, hold government accountable, and defend democratic values.
