The newly elected Benue State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faced confusion on Friday when they arrived at the party’s secretariat on Otukpo Road to assume office, only to find the building locked.
This unexpected development occurred three weeks after former Governor Samuel Ortom announced that he had provided an alternative office space for the party at one of his properties in Makurdi’s High-Level area. Ortom’s action followed reports from the PDP’s caretaker committee claiming they had been forced out of the secretariat.
The original secretariat had been donated by former Governor Gabriel Suswam. However, Suswam’s media aide, Mede Bartholomew, dismissed the caretaker committee’s claim of eviction, stating that there was no evidence of such an event.
When the newly elected PDP chairman, Ezekiel Adaji, and his team arrived at the old secretariat to receive handover notes from the caretaker committee, they were surprised to find the premises locked. Efforts by Adaji to ascertain the reason for the closure were unsuccessful, as the caretaker committee’s secretary informed him by phone that they too had just learned of the situation.
Addressing journalists, Adaji said he would consult with relevant stakeholders to determine the next steps for the party.
Earlier on Friday, the PDP held its state congress, where Ezekiel Adaji, a former member of the House of Representatives representing Otukpo/Ohimini, was elected as the new state chairman. The chairman of the electoral committee, Alhaji Shaba Ibrahim, announced that Adaji received 2,482 votes from 2,900 accredited delegates, securing his position alongside other members of the state working committee.
Adaji now leads the newly elected 27-member State Executive Committee, which includes State Secretary Comrade Dan Nyikwagh, State Public Secretary Hon. Tim Nyor, Youth Leader Ibya Terkimbi, and Women Leader Mrs. Alice Albert. The officials were immediately sworn in by the caretaker committee’s legal officer, Barr. Friday Ejembi.
In his acceptance speech, Adaji expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from party members and pledged to lead the party back to power.
“Our state needs leadership, and my executives will not disappoint the party,” Adaji said. “We will immediately establish a reconciliation committee to unite all aggrieved members and begin working to strengthen the party.”
