Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor | Journalist at Weng Global
Former Benue State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in the state, Samuel Ortom, has denied reports circulating on social media that there is a plan to replace the partyโs 2027 governorship candidate, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa.
The claim has generated political discussions in Benue as parties continue preparations for the 2027 governorship election.
However, available reports on the PDPโs internal process show that Aondoakaa was selected as the partyโs consensus governorship candidate after other aspirants stepped down and endorsed him.
Aondoakaa, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, emerged as the PDPโs consensus candidate in May 2026 following consultations involving party leaders, elders and the various governorship aspirants. Ten other aspirants reportedly withdrew from the contest and backed his candidacy.
The consensus process involved prominent PDP figures, including Ortom, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, PDP state chairman Ezekiel Adaji, members of the partyโs State Executive Committee, the State Assembly caucus and influential party elders.
Following his emergence, Ortom praised the aspirants for what he described as maturity, loyalty and sacrifice, while urging them to maintain unity ahead of the 2027 election.
He also advised Aondoakaa to ensure that other aspirants and their supporters were carried along in the campaign structure, stressing the importance of unity if the party is to challenge the incumbent administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฎโ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ
The PDP subsequently moved beyond the consensus arrangement to formally affirm Aondoakaa as its governorship candidate.
At the partyโs congress in Makurdi in May, Aondoakaa was affirmed as the candidate and unveiled 38-year-old Oyije Ochaekiti Ogbenjuwa as his running mate.
The development appeared to strengthen the former ministerโs position as the partyโs flag bearer for the 2027 contest.
During the affirmation ceremony, Aondoakaa pledged to unite the PDP and focus his campaign on major challenges facing the state, particularly insecurity, agriculture, youth unemployment, infrastructure, healthcare and education.
He said Benue residents were seeking peace, economic opportunities and responsive governance, promising to make security a major priority if elected governor.
๐ข๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐บโ๐ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฃ๐๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
Ortom has remained an influential figure within the Benue PDP following the end of his tenure as governor in 2023.
Earlier reports also showed that he has repeatedly dismissed various claims about his political plans ahead of the 2027 elections.
In April, Ortom denied reports that he intended to contest the Benue North-West senatorial seat, stating that he had no intention of contesting any elective position in 2027.
He also rejected reports linking him to the 2027 presidential race, describing a social media poster promoting such a claim as fake and misleading.
Ortom similarly denied an earlier claim that he had defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), reaffirming his membership of the PDP.
The repeated denials have highlighted the amount of political speculation circulating online as politicians and parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
๐ฃ๐๐ฃ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐๐ธ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ณ
The PDPโs immediate challenge will be to maintain the unity that accompanied Aondoakaaโs emergence and translate the consensus arrangement into a strong grassroots campaign.
The party has said it wants to reclaim Benue from the APC-led administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia in 2027.
Aondoakaa has therefore been tasked with bringing together former aspirants, party leaders and grassroots supporters as the campaign gathers momentum.
His emergence was initially presented as an example of internal compromise, with the other aspirants publicly pledging their support.
Whether that unity will be sustained throughout the election cycle could become one of the major factors shaping the PDPโs prospects.
For Ortom, his public role has largely centred on strengthening the PDP and supporting its political structure rather than seeking another elective position.
The former governor has repeatedly urged party members to place the interest of Benue above personal ambitions.
๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ
Reports reviewed by Weng Global confirm that Michael Aondoakaa remains the PDPโs formally affirmed governorship candidate for Benue Stateโs 2027 election.
There is also no credible evidence in the sources reviewed indicating that the PDP has announced a replacement for Aondoakaa.
The earlier consensus process, his subsequent affirmation by the party congress and his selection of a running mate all point to the continuation of his candidacy.
The public is therefore advised to exercise caution when consuming political claims circulating on social media, particularly as political parties intensify their preparations for the 2027 elections.
For now, Aondoakaa remains the PDPโs candidate, while Ortom continues to be identified as a key leader and supporter of the partyโs political efforts in Benue.
Sources: TheCable, Vanguard, Punch, Independent Newspapers, Africa Check and other reports reviewed by Weng Global.
