Ortom Faces Scrutiny Over Political Moves for 2027

Samuel Ortom, the former Governor of Benue State and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is under scrutiny regarding his political alignment ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Previously, Ortom was part of the PDP’s G-5 governors who opposed the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 general elections, and he supported Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

Recently, however, he has been linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign, prompting speculation about his political strategy. This scrutiny intensified after Obi's visit to Benue State, where he was reportedly transported in a vehicle registered in Ortom's name.

The Democratic Action Group (DAG) confirmed this through the Federal Road Safety Corps. Additionally, Obi faced resistance during his visit, which he attributed to Governor Hyacinth Alia, a claim denied by Alia's spokesman, Sir Tersoo Kula, who suggested the incident might have been orchestrated to damage the governor's reputation.

These developments reflect the evolving political landscape in Benue as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.