Ortom, Akutah Deny Alleged Plot to Replace PDP Governorship Candidate in Benue
The immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, and Dr. Pius Akutah have vehemently denied a report claiming a plot to replace the PDP governorship candidate, Michael Aondoakaa, with Akutah. Both stated that a recent meeting of Benue stakeholders was for strategic alliance-building, not for discussing a change in candidacy, labeling the report as false and malicious.
Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and Dr Pius Ukeyima Akutah have denied reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plans to replace its governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), ahead of the 2027 election.
Ortom, through his media aide Zege Paul Terhide, described the report as “false, misleading and a deliberate distortion of the facts.” Akutah, through his principal private adviser, Atir Solomon Faeren, similarly dismissed the claim as “false, malicious and unverified.”
Ortom confirmed that he, Senate Minority Leader Patrick Abba Moro and Aondoakaa had met with several prominent Benue stakeholders, including Akutah, Chief Simon Shango, Prof Iyorwuese Hagher, Engr Emmanuel Ameh and Dr Matthias Byuan.
He explained that the meeting was part of ongoing consultations aimed at building a broad strategic alliance among Benue stakeholders for the development of the state. Ortom stressed that replacing Aondoakaa was neither discussed nor considered during the meeting.
Akutah also denied participating in any secret discussions concerning the PDP governorship ticket, maintaining that the report originated from an anonymous online platform and lacked credibility.
The separate statements from Ortom and Akutah reinforce the position that the stakeholder meeting was consultative rather than an attempt to alter the party’s 2027 governorship candidacy. With both figures publicly rejecting the alleged plot, the PDP’s existing nomination of Aondoakaa remains the focus of the party’s campaign in Benue.