Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has openly declared his willingness to support Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election — but only on the condition that Makinde secures the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during a live interview on Channels Television on Monday, Ortom reaffirmed his long-held position that power should remain in southern Nigeria beyond 2027, ruling out any support for a northern candidate.
“I will never support a northern candidate in 2027,” Ortom asserted emphatically. “If Seyi Makinde emerges as the PDP presidential candidate, I will support him against Tinubu. That’s not in doubt.”
While Governor Makinde has not yet made his intentions for 2027 known, Ortom clarified that the Oyo State governor has neither approached him for support nor officially declared interest in the race.
“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,” the former governor stated.
Ortom also made it clear that in the absence of a credible southern flag bearer from the PDP, he would be left with no option but to support President Tinubu’s re-election.
“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 maintained.
This is not the first time Ortom has broken ranks with his party over zoning issues. In the 2023 presidential election, he backed Labour Party’s candidate, Peter Obi, over PDP’s standard-bearer and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a northerner.
Ortom’s latest remarks are expected to further stoke debate within the PDP and the wider political space, as the jostling for 2027 gradually begins to take shape.
