Ortom calls for apology
Peoples Democratic Social gathering (PDP) Disciplinary Committee, led by Chief Tom Ikimi, has rescheduled its sitting to March 4. The rescheduling adopted the absence of two key individuals, the controversial Nationwide Secretary of the social gathering, Sam Anyanwu, and a former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.
After ready for 3 hours, the disciplinary committee informed journalists it determined to reschedule its sitting for truthful listening to. In response to Ikimi, the committee despatched invites via courier service, notably DHL, to the 2 individuals.
“We despatched the invites via DHL and we’ve proof that they obtained them. However within the case of Ortom, they mentioned it was not obtained. So, we’re giving them one other alternative by resending the invitation.” On Anyanwu, the committee disclosed that he complained about not being effectively and added that yesterday was his medical appointment.
In the meantime, Ortom has requested the Ikimi-led disciplinary committee to tender public apology to him for allegedly violating his basic rights in breach of the social gathering’s structure.
In a letter signed by his lawyer, C.T. Mue, Ortom cited many sections of the structure of the PDP, which he mentioned had been violated by the Disciplinary Committee.
“The untimely publication of allegations in opposition to our consumer, with out being duly knowledgeable, as supplied by Part 57(4) of the structure of PDP 2017 (as amended), has led to public ridicule and reputational hurt,” the letter learn. Ortom mentioned he was by no means notified of any allegations earlier than a public assertion was made by the Disciplinary Committee in opposition to him.
“Regardless of this clear provision, our consumer was neither formally notified of any allegations in writing earlier than the press launch was issued. This constitutes a gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Structure,” he harassed.
Ortom mentioned: “Part 57(7) clearly states that no government committee at any degree, besides the Nationwide Government Committee (NEC), shall entertain any query of self-discipline regarding members of the Nationwide Government Committee, deputy governors, or members of the Nationwide Meeting.”
Thus, he claimed the Nationwide Disciplinary Committee lacked the jurisdiction to entertain any disciplinary motion in opposition to them, making the purported inquiry procedurally faulty and unconstitutional.”
The letter additional reads: “We demand that the Nationwide Disciplinary Committee instantly withdraws the Press Launch issued on fifth February 2025.“{That a} written apology be issued to our consumer inside 48 hours of receiving this discover.
“That the Nationwide Disciplinary Committee ceases and desists from additional public commentary on our shoppers’ matter till they’ve been formally notified of any allegations and given a possibility to reply.
“Failure to adjust to these calls for inside 48 hours from receipt of this letter will go away our consumer with no selection however to hunt redress in a court docket of regulation, together with instituting a defamation lawsuit and petitioning regulation enforcement companies.”
MEANWHILE, the Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Social gathering (PDP) mentioned, yesterday, the individuals that petitioned the nationwide management of the social gathering in opposition to former Governor Samuel Ortom weren’t members of the social gathering.
In a letter despatched to the Chairman of the disciplinary committee, Tom Ikimi, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of PDP in Benue State, Ezekiel Adaji, mentioned: “the individuals who have signed the petition haven’t recognized themselves as members of the PDP and are unknown to the PDP, Benue State Chapter; Adaji additionally acknowledged that the platform the petitioners used to jot down the petition didn’t exist in Benue State.
“There isn’t any group of the PDP in Benue State often known as Benue PDP Youths Conscience,” he mentioned.
