Former Governor of Benue State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Samuel Ortom, has declared his unwavering support for a southern presidency in 2027, insisting that the region must be allowed to complete its constitutionally expected eight-year term before any power rotation back to the North.
Speaking during a media interaction on Thursday in Makurdi, Ortom stated emphatically that even if his party fields a presidential candidate, that individual must come from the southern region. He said his position has not changed and will not change ahead of the 2027 general elections. “Till today, I, Ortom, believe in southern presidency. Even if my party (PDP) is producing a candidate for presidency in 2027, the candidate must be from the South. South should be allowed to complete eight years. So, for me, I am not supporting a northern candidate,” he declared.
Ortom, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees and a leading voice among the influential G5 governors, used the occasion to praise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for what he described as commendable economic reforms. He noted that the removal of fuel subsidies has brought about financial benefits to many Nigerian states, which now receive increased federal allocations. According to him, these reforms are steps in the right direction, ensuring that the rule of law prevails and public resources are more effectively utilized.
He recalled that President Tinubu, during a previous visit to Benue State at the peak of herdsmen-related killings in Yelwata, assured Nigerians that no state should claim it lacks resources to meet obligations like salary payments. Ortom echoed this sentiment and added that governors now have more financial room to execute development projects and improve citizens’ welfare.
The former governor also welcomed the ongoing tax reforms, describing them as vital for sustainable economic growth. However, he did not hold back in his criticism of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, accusing it of dragging Nigeria’s economy and governance structure from “top to bottom.”
Reacting to recent reports about a newly formed political coalition, Ortom made it clear that he has not joined any such alliance. He reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP, stating, “I remain a member and leader of Peoples Democratic Party. I am even a board member of my party and I don’t believe in coalition, but where there’s need for strategic partnership, you will see me there.”
As the 2027 election season gradually builds momentum, Ortom’s endorsement of a southern candidate further shapes the political narrative, especially within opposition circles. His stance signals growing support for equity and regional balance in Nigeria’s evolving democratic landscape.
