Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has rejected claims that he is working to drop the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) 2027 governorship candidate, Michael Aondoakaa, SAN.
In a statement released Friday by his media aide, Zege Terhide, Ortom dismissed a circulating social media report which alleged that he and other PDP leaders held a secret meeting with some All Progressives Congress (APC) figures to replace Aondoakaa with Dr Pius Akutah, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
Ortom explained that he, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, Aondoakaa himself, and other prominent Benue figures — including Chief Simon Shango, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, Dr Pius Akutah, Engr. Emmanuel Ameh and Dr Matthias Byuan — met as part of ongoing consultations.
The gathering, he said, aimed at forming a broad strategic partnership of stakeholders across party lines for the benefit of the state.
“At no time during the meeting was the replacement of Chief Aondoakaa as the PDP governorship candidate discussed, contemplated or placed on the agenda,” the statement quoted Ortom as saying.
He stressed that Aondoakaa remains the party’s duly nominated candidate and continues to enjoy the confidence and support of PDP leadership and members. Ortom also expressed strong belief in Aondoakaa’s experience, competence and capacity to address the state’s security and economic challenges.
The former governor urged party members, Aondoakaa’s supporters and the people of Benue to ignore the report, describing it as misinformation that would not distract the party from building a credible alternative for the 2027 election.
