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Former Benue State Governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Ortom, has come under scrutiny over his alleged suspicious political alignment ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Ortom, who was a prominent member of the PDP’s G-5 governors that opposed the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the build-up to the 2023 general elections, had backed Peter Obi, who contested the election on the platform of the Labour Party.
The former governor, however, has in recent times been associated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, raising questions about his current political calculations ahead of the 2027 poll.
The issue came into sharper focus following Obi’s recent visit to Benue State, during which the former Anambra State governor was reportedly conveyed in a Toyota Land Cruiser allegedly belonging to Ortom.
The vehicle, with registration number GWA 608 BT, was reportedly sent by Ortom to receive Obi at the civilian wing of the Nigerian Air Force Base in Makurdi.
A statement by the Democratic Action Group (DAG) claimed that a check with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) showed that the vehicle was registered in Ortom’s name.
The development has triggered speculation over Ortom’s relationship with Obi and his political position ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly against the backdrop of his reported association with Tinubu.
It has also sparked debate over whether the former governor is maintaining political links with rival camps as politicians intensify preparations for the 2027 election.
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The development followed Obi’s visit to Benue State as part of his political engagements.
During the visit, Obi reportedly encountered resistance from hoodlums who prevented him from accessing some of the locations on his itinerary.
Obi subsequently accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of sponsoring the obstruction, alleging that the incident prevented him from visiting Yelewata to commiserate with families of victims of the 2025 violence in the community.
The allegation was rejected by the Benue State Government.
The governor’s spokesman, Sir Tersoo Kula, denied Alia’s involvement, suggesting that the incident might have been stage-managed to portray the governor in a bad light.
Kula also suggested that the incident could have resulted from disagreements within the NDC, saying some factions might have been unhappy with certain developments surrounding Obi’s visit and could have acted independently.
The conflicting claims have added a new dimension to the emerging political realignments in Benue ahead of the 2027 general elections, as political actors continue to position themselves ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested presidential race.
