From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Benue State chapter, has passed a vote of confidence on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, as well as the National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Illiya Umar Damagun.
The party stakeholders, at a press conference in Makurdi on Tuesday, also passed a vote of confidence on the leader of the PDP in the state, Chief Samuel Ortom, and on the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, representing Benue South Senatorial District.
The stakeholders who spoke through the Chairman, PDP Elders’ Forum in the state, Laha Dzever, also lauded the National Local Government Congress Committee over the conduct of the Local Government Congresses of the party.
He noted that the PDP wouldn’t have recorded much success, without the collective will of the party leaders including Chief Ortom, Senator Moro, as well as Senator Gabriel Suswam.
While calling for cessation of hostilities, the Chairman advised aggrieved party members who had taken the party to Court to rather exploit the party’s internal resolution mechanism at all times.
He said, “We unanimously pass a Vote-of-Confidence on the National Working Committee of our great party under the leadership of National Chairman, Ambassador Damagum.
“We also pass a Vote-of-Confidence on the Leader of the PDP in Benue State, His Excellency, Chief Samuel Ortom for the sacrificial work he has been doing tirelessly to reposition the party and keep it growing stronger towards the objective of recapturing power in future elections.
“It is further our position that a vote-of-confidence is hereby passed on the Leader of the opposition in Nigeria, Senate Minority Leader, Distinguished Senator Patrick Abba Moro, for his steadfast commitment to the well-being and growth of PDP in Benue State and beyond, and for doing the party proud by the competent manner he is discharging his legislative and representative duties on the floor of the Red Chamber of Nigeria’s National Assembly.
“On the Caretaker State Working Committee of our great party in the state, we also pass a vote-of-confidence in affirmation of the good works they have embarked upon in the short time so far they have been in office at the helm of affairs of the PDP in Benue.
We urge the Benue PDP family to, more than ever before, close ranks and place the interests of the party above those of individuals or groups within its ranks. The umbrella of the party is large enough to accommodate the aspirations of its members at the various opportunities for elective offices as will arise from time to time.”
The Forum chairman further stated that “We urge all members of the party who have taken their grievances to court without exploring the internal dispute resolution mechanisms provided in its laws and those who have been visibly active in the media publicizing the disputes which have arisen from the ongoing elective congresses to withdraw such actions and abide by the party’s laws.
“It has not yet been proven that there is any dispute that we cannot resolve among ourselves as members of the Benue PDP family. We hereby call for a cessation of all outward ventilation of grievances by members of the party, and enjoin aggrieved members to channel their actions inward.”
While calling on all members to work for the peace and unity of purpose in the party, Dzever said members must close ranks and above all, adhere to the authority of the laws of the party in the spirit of the principle of party supremacy adding that “The Party is Supreme” must be the watchword at all times.