Resign or beg for pardon, Ortom tells Ayu

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has asked the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Iyorchia Ayu to resign or beg for pardon.

The demand is the first Ortom, who is the governor of Ayu’s home state, has openly made.

It was learnt that a group of Governors led by Rivers’ Governor Nyesom Wike has been calling on the PDP National Chairman to resign for a southern to take over.

The governors maintained that Ayu’s resignation or plea for pardon is the only condition under which they will support the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar.

Speaking during the Executive Council meeting in Government House, Makurdi at the weekend, Ortom reminded Ayu that he (Ayu) had promised to resign if a northern candidate emerged as presidential candidate of the party and urged him to honour his words.

The governor said: “Ayu told the whole world that if a northern candidate emerges, he will resign. So where is the honour now to continue in office?

“If you don’t want to resign beg for pardon. But it is not enough to say your tenure is four years and you won’t resign as you said it yourself.”