Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, while backing former Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, as his preferred candidate for governor of the state.

Ortom made the declaration during an interview on Arise Television, where he also reaffirmed his political relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The former governor said he and his political associates in Benue State were working to secure Tinubu’s victory in the 2027 presidential election.

“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,” Ortom said.

Explaining his decision to support Tinubu, Ortom recalled that he had backed Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election but subsequently accepted Tinubu’s emergence as president.

“You will recall, in 2023, when Wike was appointed minister, I was there at the reception, and I made a statement, and I have no regret making that statement, that in 2027 some of us will support Tinubu to win.

“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 said his political alignment with Wike remained intact, adding that his supporters in Benue were committed to working 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.

At the state level, Ortom declared his support for Aondoakaa, saying he would also back candidates of his choice for the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly in the 2027 elections.

“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,” he said.

Ortom accuses Alia of witch-hunt
The former governor, however, criticised the administration of his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, accusing it of disregarding the rule of law and allegedly engaging in what he described as the “witch-hunting” of political opponents.

Ortom said respect for the rule of law was fundamental to democracy, alleging that the Alia administration had instead adopted measures aimed at running political opponents down.

“You will recall that democracy is anchored on the rule of law. And that is what guides what democracy is. What we are witnessing in the last three years and some months is that here is a government that does not believe in the rule of law but believes in witch-hunting, believes in running opponents down,” he alleged.

He cited the seizure of 23 vehicles allocated to him by the state government after he left office, saying he had challenged the action in court and obtained a judgment in his favour.
“I went to court, and we defeated the government. And they were asked to pay me five million in addition to returning the 23 vehicles they took away from me, which were legitimately given to me by the government,” Ortom said.

According to him, the vehicles had yet to be returned despite the court judgment.
“As I talk to you, that is what I am saying. 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,” he alleged.

Ortom also accused Alia of excluding former governors and other political stakeholders from discussions on the affairs of the state.
“Since I left Government House in 2023, I have never had the opportunity to meet with my governor and offer whatever it is, my advice. It has not been done,” he said.

Benue security crisis

The former governor further alleged that the Alia administration had failed to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to address the security challenges confronting the state.

According to Ortom, President Tinubu had advised Alia to bring together former governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to deliberate on the killings and seek a lasting solution to the crisis.

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

Ortom also questioned the implementation of local government autonomy in Benue State, saying the policy had yet to translate into what he described as genuine autonomy at the grassroots.

“The local government autonomy that we were told has been granted – there is nothing like that in Benue State,” he alleged.

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

“Once a decision is taken by the Supreme Court, that is final. You can’t go any other place now,” he said.