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Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said he has no regrets about declaring support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News, Ortom discussed the political landscape in Benue, the upcoming 2027 elections, and his relationship with incumbent Governor Hyacinth Alia.
He explained that his decision to back Tinubu was deliberate, made after Nigerians elected the former Lagos State governor in 2023. Although he supported Peter Obi in the last presidential election, Ortom said he shifted position once Tinubu assumed office.
He publicly announced his support for Tinubu in 2027 after his former G5 colleague, Nyesom Wike, was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Ortom said he remains aligned with Wike and is mobilising supporters in Benue for Tinubu’s re-election.“I made a statement, and I have no regret making that statement, that 2027 some of us will support Tinubu to win,” he said.
“In 2023, I supported Obi. When Nigerians spoke and President Tinubu was president, I said, ‘If you can’t beat them, you join them.’ I want to assure you that I remain committed with our national leader, Nyesom Wike… that I, Samuel Ortom, and my people here in Benue State… we’re working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
On the 2027 Benue governorship race, Ortom criticised Alia’s administration, accusing it of failing to uphold the rule of law and of targeting political opponents. He alleged that local government autonomy was not being implemented and claimed no cross-party stakeholders’ meetings had been held since Alia took office.
Ortom further alleged that the governor had ignored a court judgment ordering the return of 23 government vehicles that were legitimately allocated to him and other former officials at the end of their tenure.
He said he had tried to maintain a working relationship with Alia after the 2023 election by offering advice and support, but claimed the governor had not taken his calls or engaged further.
Ortom maintained that the 2027 polls would allow Benue voters to judge the Alia administration. He said he would back his preferred candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly, while supporting Tinubu for the presidency.
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