The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Sir Tersoo Kula, has raised questions over the alleged involvement of former Benue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, in the recent visit of Mr. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), to Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Speaking at a press conference at the Benue State Government House, Makurdi, on Friday, Kula stated that Obi recently sneaked into Makurdi, with the circumstances surrounding his movement in and out of the state becoming a subject of public interest following reports of an alleged attempt to block his movement.
He said the Benue State Government had commenced an investigation into the alleged incident, adding that information obtained so far indicated that the vehicle used to convey Obi from the Makurdi Airport was linked to former Governor Ortom.
Obi was seen driving in Mr. Samuel Ortom’s sports utility vehicle,
Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number ABUJA: GWA 608 BT.
A basic check through the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) vehicle information records linked the vehicle to Samuel Ortom. The vehicle was registered in his name and associated with his Judges’ Quarters address in Makurdi. The report also identified the vehicle’s chassis details, application date, and other registration information.
“Other details of the vehicle as obtained from a basic check across the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) vehicle information report include:
Name: Dr. Samuel Ortom,
Address: Judges Quarters, Makurdi
Mobile number: 09094244394
Policy number: 5644565886669989868789333555
Application date: 2021-06-18
Chassis number: JTMHX01J2L5102347
Colour: Custom
Vehicle model: Jeep
Vehicle make: Toyota Land Cruiser, as part of DAG’s statement stressed.
The Governor’s Spokesman said further checks by the relevant authorities suggested the vehicle’s registration details were in Ortom’s name.
The development, he said, had raised questions about the former governor’s political relationship with Obi, particularly against the backdrop of Ortom’s stated position on the 2027 presidential election.
Kulas recalled that Ortom had, in a recent media interview, declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office.
He, however, alleged that Ortom, who remains a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, also played a major role in the emergence of Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, as the PDP governorship candidate in the state.
“The question is, how can someone who publicly says he is working for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu make his vehicle available for the use of another presidential candidate?” Kula asked.
He noted that the development suggested that Ortom might be speaking from different sides of his mouth by publicly supporting President Tinubu while maintaining a different political relationship with Obi behind the scenes.
According to Kula, the alleged incident had further fueled concerns about the former governor’s continued political influence in Benue State as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections intensify.
The governor’s spokesman also criticised Ortom’s eight-year administration of the state, describing it as a period of maladministration and accusing the former governor of attempting to sustain his fading political influence through allies and proxies.
He urged the people of Benue State to pay close attention to the former governor’s political activities and the alliances emerging ahead of the 2027 elections.