The immediate past Governor of Benue State and Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Samuel Ortom, has dismissed as false and misleading a social media report alleging that he and other party leaders held a secret meeting with All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains aimed at replacing the 2027 PDP governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, with Dr. Pius Akutah.
According to a statement issued by his Media Assistant, Zege Paul, the report is a deliberate distortion of the facts. Chief Ortom, alongside Senate Minority Leader Senator Patrick Abba Moro and the PDP governorship candidate Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, met with some prominent Benue leaders including Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, Dr. Pius Akutah, Engr. Emmanuel Ameh and Dr. Matthias Byuan.
The meeting formed 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.
Chief Ortom stated unequivocally that Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, remains the duly nominated governorship candidate of the PDP in Benue State for the 2027 election and continues to enjoy the confidence and support of the party leadership and members. He 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 were advised to desist from spreading fabricated stories capable of creating unnecessary confusion. Chief Ortom urged PDP members, supporters of Chief Aondoakaa and the people of Benue State to disregard the baseless report and remain focused, stressing that no amount of misinformation or political mischief would distract the PDP leadership from its commitment to building a formidable coalition of Benue people towards offering the state a credible alternative in 2027.
