A heated exchange marked the PDP North Central Zone leadership meeting on Wednesday between Senator Dino Melaye, the Kogi State governorship candidate in the 2023 election, and former Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State. The altercation was prompted by Ortom’s expressed support for President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, looking ahead to the 2027 election.
Senator Melaye, detailing the incident on his X account, questioned Ortom’s presence at the PDP meeting after his public endorsement of a rival party’s leader. “Why will Ortom attend a PDP meeting after declaring support for Tinubu in 2027? Hence, my altercation with him,” Melaye wrote.
The clash escalated when a video of the incident, showing Melaye rebuking Ortom, was retweeted by Melaye. It was initially posted by an X user, #iamhistory_, who commented on the scene, stating Melaye embarrassed Ortom during the gathering. According to the post, Melaye criticized Ortom for his “anti-party activities” and called him “shameless,” prompting a vocal confrontation that left Ortom visibly unsettled and unable to respond directly to Melaye’s accusations.
This incident follows a report by PUNCH in January, noting Ortom’s disclosure about the G5, a group of former PDP governors planning to support Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027. The incident underscores the growing tensions within the PDP as it navigates internal conflicts and external political alignments.