Ortom Angered As Atiku Campaign Team Jets To Benue Without Notice

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, in a mild irritation on Monday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign team of landing in Makurdi the state capital without notifying him. 
 
Atiku Abubakar whose presidential campaign is billed to hold in Nasarawa State on Monday decided to fly to Benue because he could not secure a landing clearance in Nasarawa.

About 20 minutes before his arrival, Governor Ortom arrived at the airport and many thought he was there to receive the PDP presidential candidate.

However, five minutes later, the PDP vice presidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, landed at the airport, and he exchanged pleasantries with Governor Ortom.

Ortom was heard asking “So, you people will come to my state without telling me?”

The crisis between the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the five aggrieved PDP governors may be far from over.

Moments later, a jet landed and Governor Ortom swiftly moved towards it to receive the person or persons aboard; it turned out to be Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

The governors hugged and exchanged pleasantries and without wasting time, the two men entered their vehicle and zoomed off.

This is even as the duo of Governors Samuel Ortom and Nyesom Wike shunned Atiku at the Makurdi Airport in Benue State.

Twenty minutes later, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar arrived at the Makurdi Airport alongside members of the Presidential Campaign Council and the PDP national chairman.

He was only received by Governor Okowa and other party members, the absence of Ortom and Wike, a strong indication that the rift remains far from over.

The Rivers State governor has since been at loggerheads with PDP presidential candidate Atiku over the chairmanship of Iyorchia Ayu.

Wike with four other PDP governors known as the G5 or the Integrity Group have insisted that Benue-born Ayu must step down for a southerner as a precondition to support the 2023 ambition of Atiku.