Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has given the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 48 hours to withdraw its public summon and issue a formal apology, accusing the party of subjecting him to public ridicule.
This follows a statement from the PDP’s National Disciplinary Committee, led by Tom Ikimi, announcing an investigation into alleged petitions against him.
In response, Ortom’s legal team, led by C.T. Mue Esq., described the move as a blatant violation of the PDP Constitution and Nigerian law. The lawyers argued that under Section 57(4) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended), any member facing allegations must first be notified in writing before any public disclosure.
They also cited Section 57(7), which states that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) has the authority to handle disciplinary matters involving former governors and other high-ranking members, rendering the committee’s action invalid.
Additionally, they pointed to Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015, which prohibits the intentional dissemination of false or misleading information that could damage a person’s reputation, arguing that the public disclosure of the allegations against Ortom without prior notice amounted to a violation of this law.
Ortom has demanded that the PDP immediately retract its statement, issue a written apology within 48 hours, and refrain from making further public remarks about the matter until he is properly notified and given a chance to respond.
He warned that failure to comply would force him to take legal action, including a defamation lawsuit and petitions to law enforcement agencies for breaches of the Cybercrimes Act.
Meanwhile, the Benue State chapter of the PDP has also rejected the disciplinary proceedings, questioning the legitimacy of the petitions. State chairman, Hon. Ezekiel Adaji, stated that the individuals behind the complaints are not recognized members of the party and have failed to provide evidence of their membership.
As tensions rise, pressure is mounting on the PDP leadership to resolve the issue before it escalates further.