Benue PDP Denies Imposing Consensus Candidate, Insists on Open Primaries

Benue PDP Denies Imposing Consensus Candidate, Insists on Open Primaries

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has dismissed reports suggesting that it is planning to impose a governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 elections, describing the claim as “untrue.”

The clarification followed a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Makurdi residence of the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Samuel Ortom, which brought together governorship aspirants and party leaders.

Speaking on the development, the state PDP Secretary, Dan Nyikwagh, told Peoples Daily on Monday that the party only encouraged aspirants to engage in consultations aimed at producing a consensus candidate, if possible.

He stressed that such an arrangement was not mandatory, adding that the party would proceed to primaries if no agreement is reached.

“It is absolutely not true that the party wants to impose any aspirant as consensus candidate,” Nyikwagh said. “We only advised them to continue to talk among themselves and see if they can agree on one person. Where that is not possible, the only option left is to go to the primaries.”

He further disclosed that nine aspirants are currently vying for the PDP governorship ticket in the state, noting that the party is awaiting further directives from the National Working Committee (NWC) on the mode of primaries.

Recall that at an expanded caucus meeting in Makurdi, Chief Ortom expressed regret over the emergence of former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Titus Uba, as the party’s candidate in the 2025 election cycle, despite finishing fourth in a mock primary.

Ortom, however, pledged that such a scenario would not be repeated in 2027, insisting that all aspirants would be given equal opportunity to contest in a transparent and fair process.