Benue: No Plan To Replace PDP Guber Candidate Aondoakaa – Ortom

The immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, has dismissed a report suggesting that the Benue chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plots to replace its governorship candidate, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) with
the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah ahead of 2027 polls.

In a statement issued by the former governor’s Media Aide, Zege Paul Terhide, on Friday, Ortom described the report as false, misleading and a deliberate distortion of the facts.

The statement explained that Ortom alongside the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Patrick Abba Moro, and the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, met with some prominent Benue sons, including Chief Simon Shango, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, Dr. Pius Akutah, Engr. Emmanuel Ameh and Dr. Matthias Byuan.

According to Ortom, the meeting was part of ongoing consultations and engagements aimed at building a broad strategic alliance of Benue stakeholders for the greater good 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” he stated.

The former governor maintained that Aondoakaa remains the duly nominated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State for the 2027 election, stressing that the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice enjoys the confidence and support of the leadership and members of the party.

Parts of the statement read, “The attention of the immediate past Governor of Benue State and Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Chief Samuel Ortom has been drawn to a mischievous report being circulated on social media alleging that he and other leaders of the party held a secret meeting with some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, with the aim of replacing the 2027 PDP governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah. The report is false, misleading and a deliberate distortion of the facts” Ortom said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Ortom, alongside the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Patrick Abba Moro, and the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, met with some prominent Benue sons, including Chief Simon Shango, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, Dr. Pius Akutah, Engr. Emmanuel Ameh and Dr. Matthias Byuan.

“It is therefore mischievous for anyone to take a legitimate meeting of Benue leaders and manufacture an entirely different motive for it. Political consultations and engagements across party lines are neither strange nor secret conspiracies, particularly when they are driven by the larger interest of the people”

Ortom reaffirmed his conviction that Aondoakaa possesses the experience, competence, capacity and understanding of the challenges confronting Benue State to provide purposeful leadership and reposition the state on the path of security, economic recovery and sustainable development.

“Those behind the false narrative are advised to desist forthwith from spreading fabricated stories capable of creating unnecessary confusion among members and supporters of the PDP and the general public. Political journalism and commentary must be anchored on facts, not conjecture, deliberate falsehood or the attribution of imaginary motives to legitimate engagements” the statement said.

The statement, however, urged PDP members, teeming supporters of Aondoakaa and the people of Benue State to disregard the baseless report and remain focused, “No amount of misinformation or political mischief will distract the PDP leadership from its commitment to building a formidable coalition of Benue people towards offering the state a credible alternative in 2027” Ortom added.