Gov. Alia Alleges Ortom is Secretly Working for NDC, Peter Obi Ahead of 2027

Makurdi, Benue State— Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has accused his predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom, of working covertly for the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr. Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The governor made the allegation on Friday, September 11, 2026, at the Government House, Makurdi. His Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, articulated the claim.

—“Ortom is working for Obi, not Tinubu”—

Alia said despite Ortom’s public declaration of support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, the former governor was in reality mobilizing for Obi and the NDC.

To back the claim, Kula alleged that Ortom provided his SUV to convey Obi away from the scene when the former Anambra governor was attacked by suspected thugs during his visit to Benue last week.

“Ortom is stealthily working for Peter Obi,” Kula said, adding that the government has “pictorial evidence” to support the allegation.

—Alia slams Ortom-Aondoakaa alliance—

The governor also dismissed what he described as a political alliance between Ortom and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, to unseat him in 2027.

He described the move as a “wild goose chase” and urged Benue people to reject the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the next elections.

“There were no infrastructural projects; the administration witnessed no development at the local government level; salaries were not paid to civil servants as and when due; pensioners were denied entitlements,” Alia said, describing the Ortom administration as “eight wasted years.”

According to him, Ortom is trying to use Aondoakaa to regain political relevance in the state.

—Background—

The verbal exchange is the latest in the protracted political feud between Alia of the APC and Ortom of the PDP, which has defined Benue politics since the 2023 transition.

Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, is now being linked with the newly formed NDC ahead of 2027. Ortom has not publicly responded to the latest allegation as of press time.

Political observers in Makurdi note that the accusations signal an early start to realignments in Benue ahead of the 2027 polls, with both the APC and the emerging opposition blocs seeking to consolidate support in the Middle Belt.