A social activist and House of Representatives aspirant for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadigbo Federal Constituency in Benue State, Chief Phillip Agbese, has said that Governor Samuel Ortom and eight other governors will soon return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Agbese, who claimed Ortom confided in him at the weekend, pleaded with Chief Regina Akume, wife of the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs; and Senator George Akume to accept her on behalf of her husband into the APC fold.
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He spoke at the home of the Akumes in Makurdi shortly after an interaction with the APC state executives about his intention to contest for the House of Representative seat in 2023.
“I’m a prodigal son who has just returned home. Ortom also whispered to me that he will return home (APC) but I should first go. Benue governor will be among nine governors to return to APC very soon,” he said.
Agbese promised to be loyal to the minister as he stressed that he had all it takes to provide good representation to his people if voted into power.
Meanwhile, Ortom’s spokesman, Nathaniel Ikyur, while reacting to the claim of his principal’s planned defection, averred that the governor would not rejoin APC.
“Whoever peddles such rumour must be a serial rabble-rouser who wants attention to himself. This is a fat lie. It is therefore laughable to suggest that Governor Samuel Ortom will dump the Peoples Democratic Party at a time he is galvanising support among other patriotic leaders of the party to rescue Nigeria from the clueless leadership the APC led by General Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has plunged the country into.
“Let me be clear here, Governor Ortom is not contemplating on joining the APC at any time. Rather, the governor is in the forefront, working with other leaders of the PDP to ensure that the party wins the presidency and many other states as well as retains power here in the state,” Ikyur added.
