The immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Friday said some stakeholders in the state, irrespective of party affiliation, are forming a strategic partnership ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

Ortom made the declaration in a statement issued by his media aide, Zege Terhide, while dismissing a report trending on social media that he was planning to replace the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Michael Aondoakaa, SAN.

The report circulating on social media alleged that Ortom and other leaders of the party held a secret meeting with some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress to replace the 2027 PDP governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Pius Akutah.

Describing the report as false, Ortom said he and other political actors in the state, including the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, and the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, met with some prominent Benue sons, including Chief Simon Shango, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, Dr Pius Akutah, Engr. Emmanuel Ameh and Dr Matthias Byuan.

“The meeting was part of ongoing consultations and engagements aimed at building a broad strategic alliance of Benue stakeholders for the greater good of the state.

“At no time during the meeting was the replacement of Chief Aondoakaa as the PDP governorship candidate discussed, contemplated or placed on the agenda,” Ortom stated.

The former governor emphasised that political consultations and engagements across party lines are neither strange nor secret conspiracies, particularly when they are driven by the larger interest of the people.

Ortom stated that Aondoakaa, “remains the duly nominated governorship candidate of the PDP in the state for the 2027 election and added that the former Attorney General enjoys the confidence and support of the leadership and members of the party.”

He equally reaffirmed his conviction that Aondoakaa possesses the experience, competence, capacity and understanding of the challenges confronting the state to provide purposeful leadership and reposition the state on the path of security, economic recovery and sustainable development.

Ortom urged PDP members, teeming supporters of Aondoakaa and the people of the state to “disregard the report and remain focused,” stating that “no amount of misinformation would distract the PDP leadership from its commitment to building a formidable coalition of Benue people towards offering the state a credible alternative in 2027.”