Ortom Rejects Claims of PDP Candidate Replacement Plot
Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has denied allegations that he and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders are scheming to replace the party’s 2027 governorship candidate, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, with Pius Akutah, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
Ortom described the circulating social media report as mischievous, misleading, and a deliberate distortion of facts.
He clarified that the meeting in question involved himself, Senate Minority Leader Senator Patrick Abba Moro, the PDP governorship candidate Chief Aondoakaa, and notable Benue stakeholders including Chief Simon Shango, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, Dr. Pius Akutah, Engineer Emmanuel Ameh, and Dr. Matthias Byuan.
The gathering was part of ongoing consultations aimed at building a broad strategic alliance of Benue stakeholders in the state’s overall interest, not to discuss any change in the party’s governorship ticket.
Ortom stressed that at no point during the meeting was the issue of replacing Aondoakaa raised, considered, or placed on the agenda, labelling contrary claims as political mischief intended to mislead the public.
He reaffirmed that Aondoakaa remains the duly nominated PDP governorship candidate for the 2027 election and enjoys the confidence and full support of the party’s leadership.
Ortom expressed confidence in Aondoakaa’s experience, competence, and capacity to address Benue’s security and economic challenges and provide purposeful leadership if elected.
He warned those spreading what he called fabricated reports to stop disseminating false information capable of creating confusion among party members and the public.
Ortom urged PDP members, supporters, and the people of Benue State to disregard the report, insisting that no amount of misinformation would derail the party’s efforts to build a formidable coalition ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
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