The immediate past governor of Benue, Samuel Ortom, has reaffirmed his support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Michael Aondoakaa SAN.
Ortom stated this in a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Zege Terhide while dismissing the report trending on social media in the state that he was planning to replace the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Michael Aondoakaa, SAN.
Ortom said that he has the conviction that Aondoakaa, SAN, possesses the experience, competence, capacity and understanding of the challenges confronting the state to provide purposeful leadership and reposition the state on the path of security, economic recovery and sustainable development.
ALSO READ: Gov Otu approves N1.5bn youth empowerment scheme
While admitting that he and other political actors in the state met, the former governor said that the meeting was about forming an alliance ahead of forthcoming governorship elections.
He listed other stakeholders at the meeting to include, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, and the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Michael 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.
“At no time during the meeting was the replacement of Chief Aondoakaa as the PDP governorship candidate discussed, contemplated or placed on the agenda.”
The former governor added that 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 however insisted that Aondoakaa, SAN, remains the duly nominated governorship candidate of the PDP. in the state for the 2027 election and added that the former attorney general enjoys the confidence and support of the leadership and members of the party.
Ortom urged PDP members, teeming supporters of Aondoakaa and the people of the state to disregard the report and remain focused stating that no amount of misinformation 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.