Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has declared that he would support the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde against President Bola Tinubu should the governor emerge the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2027.
Ortom, who spoke during a Channels Television interview on Monday, reaffirmed his commitment to power retention in the South in 2027.
“I will never support a northern candidate in 2027,” Ortom said, as he emphasised the need for the presidency to remain in the South.
“If Seyi Makinde emerges as the PDP presidential candidate, I will support him against Tinubu. That’s not in doubt.”
The ex goovernor however, clarified that Governor Makinde has not yet formally declared any interest in the presidential race, nor has he personally approached him for support.
“As of today, Makinde has not come to me to express any interest in running. But if he does and secures the PDP ticket, I will stand with him,” he stated.
Ortom however, said he would support Tinubu’s re-election in the absence of a credible southern presidential candidate of the PDP in 2027.
“If the PDP fails to produce a southern candidate, I will have no choice but to support Tinubu. I cannot support a northern candidate under any circumstance in 2027,” he declared.
Recall that the former Benue governor, as a PDP chieftain, supported the candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi, against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who ran on the platform of the PDP.
