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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Immediate past governor of Benue State and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Samuel Ortom, has dismissed as false and misleading reports alleging a plot to replace the party’s 2027 governorship candidate, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Pius Akutah.
In a statement signed by his media assistant, Paul Terhide, and made available to journalists, Ortom described the report circulating on social media as “a deliberate distortion of the facts” aimed at creating confusion within the PDP and among the public.
He explained that he, alongside the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, and Aondoakaa, recently met with prominent Benue indigenes, including Chief Simon Shango, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, Dr Pius Akutah, Engr Emmanuel Ameh and Dr Matthias Byuan, as part of consultations to build a broad strategic alliance among Benue stakeholders.
Ortom stressed that replacing Aondoakaa as the PDP governorship candidate was neither discussed nor contemplated at the meeting.
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He said: “Political consultations and engagements across party lines are neither strange nor secret conspiracies, particularly when they are driven by the larger interest of the people. It is therefore mischievous for anyone to take a legitimate meeting of Benue leaders and manufacture an entirely different motive for it.”
The former governor reaffirmed that Aondoakaa remains the PDP’s duly nominated governorship candidate for the 2027 election, adding that the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice continues to enjoy the confidence and support of the party leadership and members.
Ortom expressed confidence in Aondoakaa’s ability to provide purposeful leadership, citing his experience, competence and understanding of Benue’s challenges.
He urged those behind the report to desist from spreading fabricated stories capable of causing unnecessary confusion, and called on PDP members and the people of Benue State to disregard the claims, insisting that political misinformation would not distract the party from building a broad coalition ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
