Former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom has dismissed claims that he plans to contest the Benue North-West senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections. In a statement issued on Saturday by his Media Adviser/Consultant, Dr Terver Akase, Ortom described the reports as false and unfounded. He stated clearly that he has no intention of running for any elective office in 2027, a position he says he has communicated publicly and repeatedly. Social media reports had suggested that Ortom was preparing to enter the senatorial race, prompting public speculation.
Ortom stressed that his current focus is on supporting democratic values, strengthening the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and providing statesmanlike guidance rather than pursuing political office. "I have no intention whatsoever to contest any elective office in 2027. I have said this clearly, publicly, and repeatedly," he said. He added that such a straightforward declaration should not require "translation or creative reinterpretation." The former governor urged the public to regard the reports as "a fabrication."
Samuel Ortom's repeated denials carry weight, but in Nigerian politics, a definitive "no" often precedes a strategic pivot. His emphasis on party building while stepping back from office-seeking suggests a shift toward kingmaker status within the PDP. For Nigerian voters, this could mean less direct accountability and more behind-the-scenes influence from former officeholders. Whether Ortom stays out of the race or re-enters under different circumstances, his current stance reveals more about political positioning than final decisions.
