Ortom’s Tinubu-PDP Formula Stirs Debate: One Election, Two Allegiances

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has offered Nigerians another intriguing chapter in the long-running political drama ahead of the 2027 elections, declaring that while he supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for president, his preference in Benue State remains with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates. The position has immediately revived debate over whether Nigerian politics is increasingly being driven by party loyalty, individual performance, or simply the practical art of choosing different teams for different competitions.

Ortom made the position clear in recent television interviews, saying his support for President Tinubu dates back to 2023 and that he has no regret about backing the president’s 2027 bid. At the same time, he maintained that he would support PDP candidates in the governorship and other elections in Benue.

Tinubu Gets the Presidential Ticket, PDP Gets the Benue Assignment

In what could make political party strategists reach for their calculators, Ortom’s political formula appears to separate the presidential contest from the state-level battles. He is supporting Tinubu at the national level while remaining politically aligned with the PDP in Benue, where he has backed the party’s preferred candidates. Recent reports have identified former Attorney-General of the Federation Michael Aondoakaa as the PDP’s governorship candidate in the state.

The arrangement is particularly interesting because Ortom himself remains associated with the PDP in Benue while maintaining a relationship with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, another prominent figure whose political positioning has crossed conventional party expectations. Ortom has previously explained his support for Tinubu in terms of the president’s performance and reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy.

Party Lines Get Blurry as 2027 Approaches

The former governor’s position also comes against a background of increasing political realignment in Benue. Earlier this year, Ortom said the PDP was open to strategic partnerships ahead of the 2027 governorship election, while in August he denied reports that he was working to replace the party’s governorship candidate.

For political observers, the message is therefore bigger than one endorsement: the 2027 contest may increasingly be shaped by personalities, performance assessments and local interests rather than by simple party labels. In satirical terms, Ortom appears to have reminded politicians that a ballot paper can contain several contests—and apparently, one does not have to serve the same political meal at every table.

For now, Ortom’s unusual political combination has added another layer to an already complicated 2027 race: Tinubu for president, PDP candidates for Benue. Whether voters ultimately embrace that calculation or demand a more conventional political alignment remains to be seen, but OGM News NG will continue to watch the evolving alliances, endorsements and counter-moves as the 2027 election approaches.