Chief Samuel Ortom, the immediate past Governor of Benue State, has dismissed claims that he plans to contest the Benue North-West Senatorial seat in 2027. In a statement released on Friday, April 3, by his media aide Dr Terver Akase, Ortom labelled the reports as "Another imaginative fiction." He stated that such baseless speculation usually would not warrant a response, but clarified the matter to prevent public confusion. Ortom emphasized that he has "no intention whatsoever to contest any elective office next year," a position he says he has made "clearly, publicly, and repeatedly."
The former governor reiterated his commitment to supporting democratic principles, strengthening his party, and providing statesman-like guidance rather than seeking political office. He acknowledged the concerns and messages from supporters, friends, and party members following the circulation of the false report. Ortom urged the public to regard the story as a fabrication and not mistake it for fact.
Ortom's outright rejection of a senate run—after multiple rounds of speculation—suggests he's calculating a different kind of political influence. If he's not running, then his real power move may be shaping the race from behind the scenes. For Nigerian politics, this signals that post-office relevance doesn't always require a ballot line.
