Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has admitted that he committed a grave political error by compelling the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to adopt Mr Titus Uba as its governorship candidate for the 2023 elections, an action he said ultimately weakened the party’s electoral fortunes.
Ortom acknowledged that the decision contradicted the outcome of an internal mock primary conducted among aspirants and eroded the PDP’s competitiveness in the state.
According to him, the move proved to be a costly misjudgment that haunted the party throughout the election season.
The former governor made the disclosure on Sunday at his residence in Makurdi while hosting former political appointees from the 23 local government areas of Benue State, who visited him in solidarity.
He disclosed that several influential party stakeholders had cautioned him against imposing a candidate, warning that such a choice would struggle to gain widespread acceptance among voters, advice he admitted he ignored.
“I did not consult God before taking that decision,” Ortom said, while expressing remorse over the outcome.
He also tendered an apology to other governorship hopefuls who outperformed Uba in the party’s mock primary, saying, “I apologise to those who were ahead of him when you conducted your mock election to determine the leading candidate among the then aspirants.”
Ortom further stated that warning signs were evident even before the election, pointing to the candidate’s health challenges and the heavy financial implications for the state.
“His treatment overseas cost the state government over N300 million. That alone was a sign that he was not the right choice for the party,” he said.
In closing, the former governor offered an unconditional apology to all those who vied for the PDP governorship ticket, admitting his insistence on Uba’s candidacy. “I insisted it must be Uba. I am sorry for my actions.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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