Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has confirmed that he provided his personal vehicle to Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi during Obi's humanitarian visit to the state last Tuesday. Speaking through his media aide, Terver Akase, Ortom explained that the decision was driven purely by courtesy, arguing that it would have been "petty, inhospitable and beneath the dignity of a former governor" to refuse assistance to a fellow former governor and prominent political figure.
Obi's Visit and the Vehicle Controversy
Obi had travelled to Benue as part of a humanitarian mission to meet victims and families affected by the June 2025 massacre in Yelewata. His trip encountered trouble when youths reportedly blocked his convoy near Gyado Villa, a short distance from Makurdi Airport.
Governor Hyacinth Alia's Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, later alleged that a state government investigation had traced the vehicle used to transport Obi from the airport back to Ortom, as reported by Punch. Tersoo identified the vehicle as a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number GWA 608 BT, stating that Federal Road Safety Corps records showed it was registered in Ortom's name and linked to his Judges Quarters address in Makurdi.
Ortom's Defense and Political Stance
Ortom rejected any suggestion that his action carried political meaning, describing the gesture as humanitarian in nature. He said Obi visited Benue on a mission of compassion and deserved to be treated with respect, according to Vanguard. "Peter Obi is a former governor, a presidential candidate and one of the most prominent political figures in the country," Ortom said, adding that denying him support would have reflected poorly on him personally.
He called efforts to politicise the matter "ridiculous and shameful," accusing the Alia administration of turning a straightforward act of hospitality into unnecessary controversy. Ortom also addressed questions about his political loyalties, acknowledging that he supported Obi during the 2023 presidential election but insisting that he had since made his position clear, having publicly declared support for President Tinubu in the 2027 race. He said that backing Tinubu did not mean he was obligated to treat Obi with hostility or deny him basic courtesy.
Background and Previous Declarations
Peter Obi was ratified as the NDC's presidential candidate on May 29, 2026, following his resignation from the African Democratic Congress earlier that month. Previously, Legit.ng reported that Ortom publicly declared he stands by his decision to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, saying he has no regrets about the position he took. The former governor explained that his support for Tinubu was a calculated political move taken after Nigerians delivered their mandate in 2023.
The controversy highlights the ongoing political tensions in Benue State, with the Alia administration questioning Ortom's actions despite his declared support for Tinubu. Ortom's explanation seeks to clarify that his gesture was one of hospitality, not political alignment, as he continues to navigate his role in the state's political landscape.
