Former Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has strongly criticized Senator Dino Melaye, branding him a ‘liability’ to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) amid ongoing internal strife within the party.
The rift between Ortom and Melaye came to the fore during the North Central Zonal meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, where Melaye launched a verbal attack on the former governor for his perceived support of Chief Bola Tinubu’s government.
Responding to Melaye’s accusations, Ortom’s media aide, Terver Akase, issued a statement titled, “Melaye: ‘A leopard won’t change its spots, time to graduate from thuggery’,” in which Ortom advised Melaye to transition away from what he termed as “thuggery.”
Ortom accused Melaye of being a hindrance not only to the PDP but also to the people of Kogi State, citing Melaye’s failed gubernatorial bid and his alleged lack of contributions to the party.
Ortom stated, “This is why the people rejected his bid to be their governor. In the last election, Dino could not even vote for himself. His rants and comedy often end up on social media.
“He makes no contributions to the party and instead drags its image to infamy with his acts of ignominy,” the former governor added.