Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom
By THOMAS AKASE, Makurdi –
Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has reiterated his support for a southern presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, citing the need for equity and fairness.
Ortom made the disclosure during his first media chat since leaving office in 2023.
Ortom emphasized that Nigeria’s unity in diversity requires a rotation of power between the north and south.
“There is an unwritten constitution in this country that the north should rule for eight years and the south eight years,” he said.
“Anything that is not southern presidency, I’m not in. It is wrong; we must work together as a people for our unity and diversity.”
*Regret over senatorial ambition*
The former governor stated that he sacrificed his senatorial ambition in 2023 for a southern presidency and now regrets his actions.
“If we have a credible candidate whom we believe has the capacity to perform more than the sitting president in our party in 2027, we will support the candidate,” he said.
“But if we don’t have, we will support any good candidate in 2027 that is from the south.”
*“Not Interested in Coalition”*
Ortom also clarified his stance on the ongoing coalition of political parties into the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“I don’t believe in coalition,” he said.
“There is nothing like a coalition at the moment. We are not doing a coalition with anybody.”
Ortom reiterated that he remains a bona fide member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), adding that he is the leader of the party in Benue and a Board of Trustees (BOT) member at the national level.
“Politics is a game of interest,” he said. “
There are no permanent enemies but permanent interests.”
