2027: Akume Loyalists Eye Benue PDP Governorship Ticket After Ortom Meeting

Strong indications emerged that Benue State governorship aspirants under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume have started shopping for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2027 ticket as plan B if governor Hyacinth Alia emerges APC candidate.

To this end, four Benue State APC governorship aspirants and loyalists of Akume, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Pius Akutah, Executive Director, Housing, Finance and Accounts at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Abuja, Mathias Byuan, and legal luminary, Sebastine Hon, (SAN) have attended the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expanded caucus meeting.

The PDP meeting which held at the Makurdi residence of former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom on Sunday was attended by PDP stakeholders and loyalists of Akume.

Our correspondent gathered that former governor Ortom led PDP in the state is working in partnership with loyalists of Akume ahead of 2027 general elections to produce governorship candidate under the opposition as Governor Alia is likely to emerge APC governorship candidate.

It further learnt that both Ortom and Akume’s teams were working to present an opposition governorship candidate to challenge Governor Alia’s second term re-election as they were supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term bid.

On the other hand, former Governor Gabriel Suswam, who recently decamped to APC along side other APC chieftains like former national chairman of the PDP, Chief Barnabas Gemade were strongly backing governor Alia.

Reacting over the PDP meeting, the executive secretary and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Benue APC governorship aspirant, Pius Akutah, said he visited the residence of former Governor Samuel Ortom, where the Benue State PDP expanded caucus meeting was held, to solicit support for the re-election of President Tinubu in 2027.

A statement issued by Akutah’s media aide, Solomon Amande said his principal who was accompanied by APC stakeholders in the state, told PDP leaders and members that his presence at the meeting was to identify with party members who have already shown overwhelming support for President Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

On his part, another APC governorship aspirant, Sebastine Hon, SAN, who attended the PDP meeting, urged Benue people to work assiduously to re-elect President Tinubu for a second term as well as rally round the Secretary to the Government of Federation, George Akume, to salvage Benue State which according to him is facing existential threat if not checked in the next election year.