Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The immediate past Governor of Benue State and leader of the State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Samuel Ortom, PhD has dismissed media reports that the major opposition party in Benue is nursing a plan to replace its Governorship Candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Pius Akutah.
This clarification was made this morning by Chief Samuel Ortom in a press statement signed by his Media Assistant, Mr. Zege Paul Terhide.
The statement reads in parts: “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”
Saying that the report is false, misleading and a deliberate distortion of the facts, Chief Ortom stated that for the avoidance of doubt, himself 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.
According to him, 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.
He stressed that at no time during the meeting was the replacement of Chief Aondoakaa as the PDP governorship candidate discussed, contemplated or placed on the agenda.
“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” he noted.
Furthermore, Chief Ortom stated unequivocally that Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, remains the duly nominated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State for the 2027 election, adding that the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice enjoys the confidence and support of the leadership and members of the party.
Chief Ortom equally 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.
The former governor however advised those behind the false narrative 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” he added..
Chief Ortom also urged PDP members, teeming supporters of Chief Aondoakaa and the people of Benue State to disregard the baseless report and remain focused. He stressed that 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.