Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has openly admitted to working against his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during the 2023 general elections — a decision he says was rooted in principles, not rebellion.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, Ortom said he was disappointed by the party’s failure to uphold the very ideals it claims to represent: equity, fairness, and justice.
“I went against the PDP in the last election because I believed the party would stand for equity, fairness, and justice — principles they unfortunately abandoned,” Ortom declared.
He revealed that he was part of a 20-member committee set up to recommend a suitable running mate for Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate. Out of the 20 members, 16 — including Ortom — voted in favour of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
However, Ortom said the party’s leadership ignored the majority recommendation, choosing instead to sideline Wike.
“Somehow, the candidate and those in charge of the party hierarchy worked against him. It was a clear case of internal sabotage,” he noted.
Ortom, a key figure in the now-famous G5 Governors, maintained that the group’s agitation was not merely about personal ambition but about correcting a pattern of political injustice — particularly, ensuring power rotation to southern Nigeria.
“Yes, interests were at play, but our central goal was for power to shift to the South. I’m glad a southern candidate eventually became President,” he added.
His revelations come at a time when the PDP is grappling with internal discontent, leadership instability, and growing calls for total restructuring after its defeat in the 2023 presidential election.
