By Obinna Nwachukwu, Abuja

The chances of Peter Obi the candidate of the labour party in the upcoming 2023 general election became brighter on Tuesday with the decision of the Bunue state governor and members of the state chapter of the People’s Democratic party ( PDP) to withdraw support for Atiku Abubakar

The decision was the high point of weeks of discord and rancor between the PDP candidate and some of the leaders of the party led by Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike

Recently, Benue state governor Samuel Ortom in Abuja openly endorsed Peter Obi and urged other candidates to support his candidature.

With the withdrawal of support to Atiku, political pundits are of the consensus that the Benue state PDP would vote for Obi come 2023.

The situation got worse on Tuesday as the Benue State governor and the entire party in the state publicly declared no support for Atiku.

At a large party event in Makurdi, Ortom announced unequivocally that he and his state can never campaign for Atiku.

According to the party leaders in a statement read by one of them, the state said that its action is in response to the denial, insult on the sensibilities of the people of Benue when Fulani herdsmen killed them en mass.

Ortom and the party leaders said Atiku in Kaduna, at a time the state was bleeding, rather than showing sympathy rather defended his Fulani ethnic leaning and accused Ortom of profiling his ethnic group.

Ortom and the state party leaders said they are still bitter that what was important to Atiku was the defense of his ethnic group whose members indisputably killed hundreds of people in Benue, an act which the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders admitted.

He and his people said Atiku’s position then was the height of insensitivity for the wanton killings that shocked the world.

Ortom in particular said that display of callousness by Atiku against the plight of Benue in support of herdsmen of his ethnic nationality is unpardonable.

The governor also said that in addition to the stated reasons, Atiku never included him in his presidential campaign plans and therefore he owes him no support since he didn’t consider him important.

Just a day earlier, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike had made similar declaration stating that Atiku sidelined him in his selection of his campaign team members.

The development is a continuation of the festering crisis and rancour in the party since Atiku emerged as presidential flagbearer.

Last week Monday, October 17, Ortom while receiving Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi in Abuja had called on other candidates to step down and support Obi.

He said Obi was the best of the candidates and suitable to fix Nigerian challenges.

He also added that if he weren’t a PDP member, he would have been an unapologetic campaigner for Obi.

With the Benue governor announcing his withdrawal from supporting Atiku, the likelihood is very high that Benue and the governor’s followers will be fully OBIdient and throw their weight behind Obi.