Politics

Why I Gave Peter Obi My Vehicle During Benue Visit — Ortom

Published

3 weeks ago

September 13, 2026

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom

Why I Gave Peter Obi My Vehicle During Benue Visit — Ortom

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has explained why he allowed Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), to use his vehicle during the former Anambra State governor’s recent visit to Benue.

Ortom said there was nothing political or unusual about his decision to make the vehicle available to Obi, insisting that it was simply an act of courtesy and hospitality to a fellow former governor and presidential candidate.

The explanation came amid a growing controversy over Obi’s visit to Benue, where his convoy was blocked by youths along the Makurdi-Gboko Federal Highway, preventing him from proceeding to Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area.

Obi had travelled to the state to sympathise with families affected by the deadly June 2025 Yelewata attack, in which more than 200 people were killed.

Speaking through his media aide, Terver Akase, Ortom said it would have been petty and inhospitable for him to deny Obi the use of his vehicle during the visit.

He argued that political differences should not prevent leaders from extending basic courtesies to one another, particularly when a former governor was visiting the state for a humanitarian engagement.

Ortom also rejected suggestions that allowing Obi to use his vehicle amounted to an endorsement of the NDC candidate’s 2027 presidential ambition.

The former governor acknowledged that he supported Obi during the 2023 presidential election, but stressed that his political position had since changed.

According to him, he has publicly declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election and has not concealed that position.

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He therefore dismissed suggestions that his decision to assist Obi meant he was secretly supporting the former Anambra governor.

Ortom described claims that he was being “double-faced” over the matter as laughable, maintaining that helping a political opponent with transportation was not the same as endorsing his political ambition.

The vehicle controversy emerged after Obi arrived in Makurdi for his planned visit to Yelewata.

The Benue State Government later raised questions about the vehicle used to convey the NDC candidate from the airport, with reports indicating that Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) records linked the vehicle to Ortom.

The revelation generated political debate, particularly because of Ortom’s support for Tinubu and his earlier relationship with Obi.

Ortom, however, maintained that the gesture should be seen as an example of political leaders putting courtesy and humanity above partisan differences.

He also questioned why the provision of a vehicle for a visiting presidential candidate had become a political issue, arguing that the state government itself should ordinarily have made adequate arrangements for Obi’s movement.

The controversy over Ortom’s vehicle followed a more serious incident involving the obstruction of Obi’s convoy.

According to the Benue State Police Command, 46 people have been arrested in connection with the blockade.

The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said the arrests followed intelligence-led operations after youths blocked Obi’s convoy on the Makurdi-Gboko highway.

The police said officers initially avoided using force to disperse the group because of fears that such action could result in casualties and destruction of property.

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Nwadiogbu said the police eventually escorted Obi safely back to the airport after his movement was disrupted.

He also warned that nobody had the right to unlawfully prevent another person from moving freely, regardless of political affiliation.

The police commissioner said the command had been informed about Obi’s planned visit and had deployed security personnel to protect him.

In a subsequent clarification, Nwadiogbu said representatives of the NDC had informed the police about the visit for security purposes.

He also stated that the NDC did not ask him to transmit its notification letter to Governor Hyacinth Alia.

The clarification became significant because the Benue State Government had criticised the organisation of Obi’s visit and questioned whether appropriate protocols had been followed.

The state government has consistently denied involvement in the blockade.

Governor Alia’s administration said it had no role in preventing Obi from travelling to Yelewata and rejected allegations that individuals acting on behalf of the government were responsible for the incident.

The government maintained that it does not engage or deploy political thugs as instruments of governance or security.

It also questioned why Obi’s visit was not formally communicated to relevant authorities in a manner that would have allowed adequate coordination and security arrangements.

Obi, however, condemned the blockade and appealed to security agencies to ensure that political actors could move freely during the build-up to the 2027 general election.

He said he had chosen not to confront the protesters because doing so could have escalated the situation and endangered lives.

The incident has attracted condemnation from several political figures, who argued that disagreements over political activities should be settled through democratic means rather than road blockades or intimidation.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo also condemned the obstruction, saying political grievances should be expressed through the ballot box rather than violence or intimidation.

The police have meanwhile continued investigations into the circumstances surrounding the blockade and the identities and motives of those arrested.

The incident has raised broader concerns about political tolerance, freedom of movement and electoral security as political parties and presidential candidates begin to intensify activities ahead of 2027.

Obi’s planned visit to Yelewata was particularly sensitive because of the scale of the 2025 violence there.

The community became a national symbol of Benue’s worsening security crisis after the attack left hundreds of people dead and displaced many residents.

Obi had intended to meet affected residents and families and express solidarity with them.

The fact that he was unable to reach the community transformed what his supporters described as a humanitarian visit into a major political controversy.

The latest dispute has also revived questions about the relationship between Ortom and Obi.

Ortom was among the prominent political figures who supported Obi’s presidential campaign in 2023. He has since aligned himself with Tinubu ahead of the next presidential election.

The former Benue governor insists, however, that his current political allegiance does not prevent him from showing courtesy to Obi or any other political figure.

He argued that leaders should be able to disagree politically while maintaining respect and civility.

For Ortom, therefore, the decision to provide his vehicle was not a secret political arrangement but an ordinary gesture of hospitality that should not be interpreted beyond what it was.

The episode nevertheless highlights the increasingly charged political atmosphere in Benue and across Nigeria as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.

With the police investigation into the Peter Obi convoy blockade still ongoing and 46 suspects already arrested, attention is now focused on determining who organised the obstruction and whether the incident had any political sponsorship.

Ortom, meanwhile, has maintained that his support for Tinubu remains unchanged, while his decision to assist Obi during the Benue visit was simply an act of courtesy to a fellow political leader.

Why I Gave Peter Obi My Vehicle During Benue Visit — Ortom

Politics

2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

Published

14 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero

2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has questioned the economic positions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, while saying the ideas of Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo deserve serious attention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Ajaero made the comments during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, where he was asked about the economic policies of Atiku and other leading figures in the 2027 race.

Rather than focusing solely on Atiku’s economic proposals, the NLC president highlighted the positions of Adebayo and Accord Party presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, saying he had examined their ideas and was willing to listen to them.

“I have looked at Gbenga Hashim’s position and I think he’s an expert to an extent. I also looked at Adebayo. I may listen to them,” Ajaero said.

He subsequently contrasted the economic approaches of Adebayo and Olawepo-Hashim with those of Tinubu, Atiku and Obi.

“Peter Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju, they all have the same position and they have shown that they are market people from far right,” he said.

Ajaero’s remarks have drawn attention to the economic debate ahead of the 2027 election, particularly as issues such as inflation, fuel prices, electricity costs, unemployment, wages and declining purchasing power remain major concerns for Nigerians.

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Adebayo, who is contesting the 2027 presidency on the SDP platform, has built his campaign around social democracy, increased domestic production, job creation and a stronger role for government in providing public services and expanding economic opportunities.

The SDP candidate has also made energy reform a major part of his campaign, arguing that high energy costs and inadequate electricity supply continue to constrain households, businesses and industrial production.

His policy blueprint, Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity: Governance & Accelerated Development — Blueprint of a New Nigeria, 2027–2031, proposes mechanisms for monitoring government performance through measurable targets, periodic assessments and implementation milestones.

Adebayo has also advocated greater emphasis on domestic production, with the argument that Nigeria must reduce its dependence on imports and foreign exchange while strengthening local industries and productive capacity.

Olawepo-Hashim, whom Ajaero also mentioned, has similarly made energy and industrialisation central to his economic programme. His proposed Energy First agenda focuses on increasing domestic energy production, expanding refining capacity and reducing energy costs.

Ajaero’s comments do not amount to a formal endorsement of Adebayo or Olawepo-Hashim for the 2027 presidential election. Rather, the NLC president said their economic proposals were sufficiently different from those of the politicians he discussed to warrant further engagement.

The intervention comes as political parties and presidential candidates increasingly position their economic policies at the centre of the 2027 campaign, with competing proposals on fuel pricing, taxation, electricity, wages, industrialisation, employment and social protection.

For the NLC, which represents organised labour and has been at the forefront of debates over wages and the impact of economic reforms on workers, the direction of the next administration’s economic policy is expected to remain a major issue ahead of the election.

With the 2027 political contest gathering momentum, the competing economic visions of the presidential candidates are likely to face increased scrutiny from organised labour, businesses and voters as parties intensify their campaigns.

2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

Politics

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

Published

19 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

The Anambra State Government has declared former governor Peter Obi and his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) a threat to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, urging APGA supporters to resist the opposition party.

The state government made the declaration in a message issued through its New Media office on Monday, accusing Obi of working to weaken the party that gave him the platform to become governor of Anambra.

The government described its message as a “betrayal alert” to APGA supporters, alleging that Obi had been seeking to undermine the party since leaving it in 2014.

It urged party members in the state not to be swayed by Obi’s current political influence, arguing that APGA remained the political platform responsible for his emergence as governor.

The government said, “Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him,” while calling on APGA members to defend the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development comes amid an increasingly tense political relationship between Obi and the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

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Obi governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014 on the APGA platform before leaving the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He later joined the Labour Party, under which he contested the 2023 presidential election, before becoming the presidential candidate of the NDC ahead of the 2027 election.

The former governor remains an influential political figure in the South-East, particularly in Anambra, where his 2023 presidential campaign recorded strong support.

The Anambra government’s latest position also comes against the backdrop of APGA’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The state government has previously defended its relationship with the President and maintained that supporting Tinubu does not conflict with APGA’s interests.

However, Obi’s emergence as the NDC presidential candidate has created a new political challenge for APGA, particularly because of his longstanding influence among voters in Anambra and the wider South-East.

The NDC has rejected the allegations against Obi, accusing the Soludo administration of attacking the former governor because of concerns about his popularity.

NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, described the state government’s position as political blackmail and maintained that the party was confident of its prospects in the 2027 election.

The latest exchange has further widened the political divide between the camps of Peter Obi and Chukwuma Soludo, with both sides increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

For APGA, the emergence of Obi and the NDC presents a particularly sensitive political challenge because of the former governor’s history with the party and his continued influence in Anambra.

The 2027 election is therefore expected to produce a major political contest in the state, with APGA seeking to retain its influence while Obi’s NDC attempts to convert his personal support base into wider electoral backing.

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

Politics

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Published

22 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Nine members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers cited concerns over insecurity, internal party divisions and what they described as inadequate attention to the welfare of residents and their constituents as reasons for their decision.

The lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Muktar Nasir, representing Kaura Namoda North; Faruk Dosara Musa, representing Maradun I; Basiru Bello, representing Bungudu West; Bashir A. Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Ibrahim T. Tukur, representing Bakura; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Yusuf Muhammad Anka, representing Anka; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.

Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Kagara said their concerns about the security situation in Zamfara had contributed to disagreements with the state government.

He said the lawmakers had raised the issue of insecurity on the floor of the Assembly, but that their position led to disagreements with Governor Dauda Lawal and their subsequent suspension.

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Kagara also alleged that joining the APC did not resolve their grievances, claiming that some party leaders failed to give them what they considered a fair hearing.

Earlier, some of the lawmakers announced their resignation from the APC in separate letters dated October 4, 2026.

In the letters, the lawmakers cited issues including insecurity, alleged injustice, internal divisions, uncertainty and concerns about governance.

One of the lawmakers also alleged that members of the Assembly had gone about 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements.

The claims about unpaid entitlements and other grievances are allegations by the affected lawmakers and have not been independently established in the reports.

The APC in Zamfara initially said it had not received official copies of the resignation letters. The party’s publicity secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the documents had been seen on social media and that the party was awaiting formal communication through the appropriate party structures.

The defection represents a significant political realignment in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 elections, with the movement of the lawmakers potentially affecting the political balance within the state legislature.