By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Former Benue State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Samuel Ortom, has reaffirmed his confidence in the party’s 2027 governorship candidate, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), describing him as a capable and experienced leader with the competence to address the state’s security and economic challenges.
Ortom’s position follows reports circulating on social media alleging that he and other PDP leaders held a secret meeting with some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to replace Aondoakaa with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah, as the party’s governorship candidate.
However, a statement issued on Friday by Ortom’s Media Assistant, Paul Zege, dismissed the reports as false, misleading and a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the purpose of the meeting.
According to the statement, Ortom, alongside the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Patrick Abba Moro, and the PDP governorship candidate, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), met with prominent Benue stakeholders, including Chief Simon Shango, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, Dr. Pius Akutah, Engr. Emmanuel Ameh and Dr. Matthias Byuan.
The statement explained that the gathering was part of ongoing consultations aimed at strengthening strategic alliances among Benue leaders in the interest of the state’s development and future.
It stressed that at no point during the meeting was the issue of replacing Aondoakaa as the PDP governorship candidate discussed or considered.
“It is mischievous for anyone to take a legitimate meeting of Benue leaders and manufacture an entirely different motive for it,” the statement said.
It added that political consultations involving leaders across party lines are normal in a democratic setting and should not be misconstrued as secret political conspiracies when they are conducted in the broader interest of the people.
Ortom further maintained that Aondoakaa remains the duly nominated PDP governorship candidate for the 2027 Benue governorship election and continues to enjoy the confidence and support of the party’s leadership and members.
The statement also warned those responsible for spreading what it described as fabricated stories to desist from actions capable of causing unnecessary confusion among PDP members, supporters and the general public.
It urged journalists and political commentators to uphold professionalism by ensuring that their reports are based on verified facts rather than speculation or false narratives.
Ortom called on PDP members, supporters of Aondoakaa and the people of Benue State to disregard the rumours, assuring them that the party remains united and committed to building a formidable political coalition capable of offering the state a credible alternative in the 2027 governorship election.
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