Ortom demands apology from PDP, gives 48-hour ultimatum over summon

Ortom

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has given the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a 48-hour ultimatum to apologise for allegedly subjecting him to public ridicule.

This follows a press release by the Tom Ikimi-led National Disciplinary Committee of the PDP, which announced an inquiry into petitions against Ortom.

In a letter by his lawyer, C.T. Mue Esq, Ortom’s legal team argued that the public notice violated Section 57 of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended) and Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015.

The letter stated that Ortom was not formally notified before the press release, making the inquiry procedurally defective.

The letter also argued that the National Disciplinary Committee lacks jurisdiction to discipline Ortom, as only the National Executive Committee (NEC) can take disciplinary actions against certain party members.

The letter demanded the immediate withdrawal of the press release, a written apology within 48 hours, and a cessation of further public commentary on the matter.

Failure to comply, it warned, would result in legal action.

The PDP’s Benue State chapter also wrote to the disciplinary committee, stating that the petitioners are unknown party members and failed to provide evidence of their membership or the alleged anti-party activities.

Ortom had supported President Bola Tinubu of the APC in the 2023 election, a move some PDP members considered anti-party.