Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has shed light on why he and the G5 governors turned against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking on Arise TV on Thursday, Ortom said the decision stemmed from the PDP’s refusal to honour the principles of equity, fairness, and justice. The G5, a bloc of aggrieved PDP governors, had advocated for power to shift to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure. However, the PDP’s choice of Atiku, another northerner, violated that expectation.
“I acted as I did because we had expected the PDP to uphold equity, fairness, and justice, values I hold dear.
When the majority of PDP members supported a Northern candidate, we deemed it unjust. We’ve always stood for equity, fairness, and justice, and we felt the presidency should alternate between the North and South for eight years each,” he said.
Ortom, who chaired the PDP’s zoning committee, noted that although the committee’s official position was to leave the ticket open, he personally advocated for a Southern presidential candidate.
“I presented the committee’s report as it was, and the NEC made the final call. I couldn’t override the collective decision,” he explained.
The former governor also discussed the involvement of Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and the G5’s push for him to emerge as either the party’s flagbearer or running mate.
“We fought for Wike to be the PDP’s presidential candidate, but unfortunately, he didn’t secure the nomination. We also believed he should have been the running mate. I was part of the 20-member committee tasked with selecting a running mate, and 16 of us supported Wike. However, the candidate and the party leadership decided otherwise,” Ortom stated.
Defending their support for opposition candidates in the 2023 polls, Ortom emphasized that political alignment is interest-driven.
“Politics revolves around interests. There’s no permanent enemy or friend in politics. It’s about protecting the interests of your community, your people, and yourself,” he said.
Responding to accusations that he and Wike tried to destabilize the PDP by backing candidates from rival parties, Ortom pointed out that they weren’t alone in taking that approach.
“Peter Obi wasn’t in the PDP, but we agreed on a strategic partnership to demonstrate our influence. Some of us supported Peter Obi, others supported Tinubu, and we ended up with the current government. If God has given us President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, why shouldn’t we support him?”
Looking ahead to 2027, Ortom reiterated his commitment to power rotation and his support for a Southern presidency.
“My position is clear: I will support a Southern candidate. I see no reason to support a Northern candidate in 2027. By 2031, if someone from the South expresses interest in the presidency, I would still advocate for it to shift to the North. That’s based on my belief in equity and fairness,” he said.
Addressing criticisms of ethnic favoritism in Benue politics, Ortom acknowledged the concerns but insisted he had always pushed for inclusion.
“I’ve fought for fairness and have advised other ethnic groups on what they need to do. I agree it’s unfair for one group to dominate the governorship since the creation of Benue State. However, politics also involves the majority. The Tiv people occupy Zones A and B, while the Idoma and Igede are in Zone C. It’s a matter of political dynamics, and I’ve encouraged other groups to organise and assert themselves,” he added.
Ortom’s remarks highlight ongoing divisions within the PDP and the lingering effects of unresolved internal disputes that weakened the party ahead of the last general elections. With key figures like Wike now aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP faces the uphill task of regrouping before 2027.
“As politicians, we understand that politics revolves around interests. There’s no permanent enemy or friend in politics. It’s about protecting the interests of your community, your people, and yourself,” Ortom concluded.
