Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The immediate past Governor of Benue State,Chief Samuel Ortom, PhD has refuted claims that his administration borrowed over ₦139 billion, insisting that the allegation is false, urging the people to disregard it.
Chief Samuel Ortom said this today when met with members and stakeholders of Agasha State Constituency from the Nongov extraction at his Makurdi residence ahead of the 2027 elections
On security, the former governor maintained that his position remains unchanged, reiterating that the Anti-Open Grazing Law and the Ranching Establishment Law remain the only viable solutions to what he described as the Fulani jihadist invasion of the Benue Valley.
According to him, the Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, shares the same ideology and, if elected governor, would ensure the full implementation of the laws.
He urged the people to remain focused and committed to the success of the PDP in the state, calling for support for the candidacy of Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, as well as other PDP candidates for national and state legislative offices. He stressed that strategic partnerships remain essential to reclaiming power in 2027.
Chief Ortom stated that it has always been his tradition to routinely brief his people, but other engagements had delayed the meeting. He explained that he convened the gathering to update his immediate constituency on political developments in the state and the status of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the national level.
The former governor expressed gratitude to the people of Nongov and Benue State generally for their cooperation and support during his administration, which ended more than three years ago. He reiterated his commitment to continue serving the people even while out of office.
Chief Ortom also promised to continue engaging and briefing various constituencies, particularly those in Guma Local Government Area and beyond, on what he described as the “deceit and propaganda” being propagated by the current administration against him and his government.
Earlier, the PDP Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Hon. Simon Anyamkande, welcomed party members and stakeholders and called for their tireless support for the former governor, especially now that their wife and mother, Dr. Eunice Ortom, is contesting the Benue North-West Senatorial seat.
The leader of the PDP in the Nongov extraction and President of the PDP MINDA Elders Forum, Hon. Charles Torbunde, appreciated the people of Nongov and pledged continued support for their son, Chief Samuel Ortom. He stated that the Nongov people had unanimously adopted Dr. Eunice Ortom as their sole candidate for the Benue North-West Senatorial District and would not welcome any distractions from within the community.
In his remarks, the member representing Agasha State Constituency, Hon. Williams Ortyom, said his support for the former governor remains unshakable and pledged to support all PDP candidates in the 2027 elections.
The PDP candidate for Agasha State Constituency, Hon. Rodney Mtagher, and the PDP candidate for Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Dr. Emmanuel Shior, thanked the Nongov people for their confidence in them and promised not to disappoint if elected.
Also speaking, Hon. Bala Tungwa (Abinsi), Hon. Timothy Iorsheregh (Kaambe), Hon. Uver Benjamin (Saghev), and Evangelist John Ikyor (Njorov) reaffirmed their loyalty to the former governor and pledged to work tirelessly for the party’s victory in 2027.
Former senatorial aspirant for the Benue North-West Senatorial District, Hon. Frank Usa Adi, also affirmed that the decision to adopt Dr. Eunice Ortom as the constituency’s candidate was in the best interest of both the party and the people, pledging his commitment to the realization of that objective.
On behalf of the women and youth, Mrs. Grace Unande and Hon. Mbatsavsue Samuel, respectively, also pledged their support for Chief Ortom and the PDP.
The meeting ended with a unanimous endorsement of Dr. Eunice Ortom’s senatorial candidacy and renewed commitments from stakeholders across the Nongov extraction to work for the success of the PDP in the 2027 general elections.