Benue 2027: Ortom plots to unseat Alia, picks Aondoakaa for governor

• Backs APC’s Tinubu for presidency

Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has thrown his weight behind former Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, in the 2027 governorship race, setting the stage for a political battle against Governor Hyacinth Alia.

Ortom, who spoke during an interview on Arise Television, declared Aondoakaa his preferred candidate for the Benue governorship election while also announcing his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

The former governor said he would support his preferred candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and Benue State House of Assembly.

“I am backing Michael Aondoakaa as my preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election. I am backing all my candidates, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly. And I am also backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for President,” Ortom said.

His declaration further sharpens the battle for the Benue Government House ahead of 2027, with Aondoakaa expected to challenge Alia’s bid to retain power.

Ortom, who governed Benue between 2015 and 2023, also reaffirmed his political alliance with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, saying they remained friends and political associates.

“I want to tell you that Wike is my friend. We’re together, we talk together, and we work together. We discuss, we argue and agree on certain principles,” he said.

Explaining his decision to support Tinubu despite backing Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, Ortom said he had resolved after the election to work with the President.

“In 2023, I supported Obi. But when Nigeria spoke, and President Tinubu was president, I said, look, what is happening? If you can’t beat them, you join them. And we did,” he said.

Ortom added that he remained committed to working with Wike and his political associates in Benue for Tinubu’s re-election.

“I want to assure you that I remain committed to our national leader, Minister Wike, and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, that I, Samuel Ortom, and my people here in Benue State, as far as we’re concerned, are working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

The former governor also launched a fresh attack on Alia, accusing his administration of witch-hunting political opponents and failing to respect the rule of law.

He cited the dispute over 23 vehicles allocated to him after leaving office, claiming that despite securing a court judgment ordering their return, the state government had yet to comply.

“Our governor does not believe in the rule of law and due process. Up to today, it’s been about a year now; those vehicles have not been given to me,” Ortom alleged.

He further accused Alia of shutting former governors and other stakeholders out of the affairs of the state, claiming he had not had an opportunity to meet the governor and offer advice since leaving office in 2023.

Ortom also alleged that the governor had failed to convene a broad stakeholders’ meeting over Benue’s security challenges despite a call by President Tinubu for former governors, traditional rulers and other leaders to be brought together.

“As I talk to you today, our governor has refused to summon that meeting,” he alleged.

He also questioned the implementation of local government autonomy in the state, alleging that “there is nothing like that in Benue State.”

Despite his criticism of Alia, Ortom said he accepted the Supreme Court judgment affirming the governor’s election, noting that the decision of the apex court was final.

With Ortom openly backing Aondoakaa while simultaneously supporting Tinubu at the federal level, his declaration points to a cross-party political alignment that could shape the battle for Benue in 2027.