Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has dismissed reports alleging that he and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders are planning to replace the party’s 2027 governorship candidate, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Pius Akutah.
Ortom described the report as mischievous and misleading, insisting that the meeting said to have triggered the speculation had nothing to do with changing the PDP’s governorship ticket.
The former governor made the clarification in a statement issued on Friday by his Media Assistant, Zege Paul Terhide.
What The Report Claimed
The controversy centred on a meeting involving Ortom, Senate Minority Leader Patrick Abba Moro and Aondoakaa, alongside several prominent Benue stakeholders.
The report allegedly portrayed the gathering as part of a plan to replace Aondoakaa with Akutah as the PDP’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Ortom rejected that interpretation, describing the report as a deliberate distortion of what took place.
He said the meeting was not convened to discuss the party’s candidate or any change to its governorship ticket.
Ortom Gives His Account Of The Meeting
According to Ortom, the gathering involved a broader group of Benue stakeholders, including Chief Simon Shango, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, Dr Pius Akutah, Engr. Emmanuel Ameh and Dr Matthias Byuan.
He explained that the discussions formed part of ongoing consultations aimed at building a broad strategic alliance among stakeholders in the overall interest of Benue State.
Ortom stressed that the issue of replacing Aondoakaa was never raised or considered.
He said it was not included on the agenda of the meeting and accused those behind the report of attempting to create confusion within the party and among members of the public.
The former governor described the publication as “mischievous” and “misleading”, arguing that it presented a different picture of what the meeting was intended to achieve.
Who Was At The Centre Of The Speculation?
The presence of Aondoakaa and Akutah at the same gathering appears to have provided the basis for the speculation surrounding the PDP ticket.
Aondoakaa is the party’s nominated candidate for the 2027 Benue governorship election, while Akutah serves as Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
Ortom said their participation in the stakeholder meeting should not be interpreted as evidence of an attempt to alter the PDP’s ticket.
His explanation places the meeting within a wider effort to bring influential Benue figures together rather than within an internal process to select a different governorship candidate.
Aondoakaa Remains PDP Candidate
Ortom subsequently reaffirmed his support for Aondoakaa, making clear that he remains the PDP’s duly nominated candidate for the 2027 election.
The former governor said Aondoakaa continues to enjoy the confidence and full backing of the party’s leadership.
He also expressed confidence in the candidate’s experience and competence, particularly in addressing the security and economic challenges confronting Benue State.
Ortom said Aondoakaa has the capacity to provide what he described as purposeful leadership if elected.
The reaffirmation is significant because it directly addresses the central question raised by the reported speculation: whether the PDP is preparing to replace its existing candidate.
According to Ortom, there is no such change.
Why The Former Governor Rejected The Report
For Ortom, the issue goes beyond denying a political rumour.
He warned that reports suggesting a change to the PDP ticket could create unnecessary confusion among party members, supporters and the wider public.
He therefore urged those spreading what he described as fabricated information to stop doing so.
The former governor also called on PDP members and supporters in Benue to disregard the report, insisting that misinformation would not derail efforts to build a broad political coalition ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
What The Clarification Establishes
Ortom’s response places a clear distinction between the allegation surrounding the meeting and his account of what actually took place.
The reported plan to replace Aondoakaa with Akutah has been expressly denied by the former governor, who said no discussion about changing the governorship ticket took place.
His statement also reaffirms Aondoakaa’s position as the PDP’s nominated candidate and presents the meeting as part of wider consultations among Benue stakeholders.
For now, the replacement claim remains an allegation that Ortom has rejected, while his position on the party’s ticket is unequivocal: Aondoakaa remains the PDP’s candidate for the 2027 Benue governorship election.
