Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has opened up about his decision to oppose the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 general elections, citing the party’s failure to uphold the core principles of equity, fairness, and justice.
Speaking during an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, Ortom, a key figure in the PDP’s G5 Governors bloc, said his conscience could not allow him to support the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Although he remained a member of the PDP, Ortom accused the party leadership of betraying internal consensus and disregarding democratic recommendations.
“I went against the PDP in the last election simply because I believed the party would stand for equity, fairness, and justice — principles they unfortunately did not uphold,” Ortom said.
The former governor recounted how he served on a 20-member committee constituted to recommend a vice-presidential candidate for Atiku.
According to him, 16 members, including himself, supported the choice of then Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, but the recommendation was discarded by the party hierarchy.
“Somehow, the candidate and those in leadership positions within the party decided to work against him,” Ortom lamented.
He reaffirmed that the G5 Governors — comprising himself, Nyesom Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Seyi Makinde — were motivated by a commitment to power rotation and regional balance, not personal ambition.
“While the G5 agenda was also about interests, our original goal was to have a southern candidate, and I’m glad that a southern candidate ultimately emerged as President,” Ortom said, in reference to President Bola Tinubu’s victory.
Ortom’s comments come at a time when the PDP is grappling with calls for internal restructuring and leadership reforms following its loss in the 2023 presidential election.
His remarks are expected to reignite debate over the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
