Ortom Atiku 2023 election stance: Ex-Benue governor says PDP erred by backing northern candidate, citing fairness, equity, and justice for southern Nigeria

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has revealed why he did not back Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 presidential election. Speaking on Arise Television, Ortom said his decision was based on principles of fairness and justice.

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“When the PDP decided to support a northern candidate, we disagreed. It was not fair,” Ortom stated during the interview. “Everyone knows that for equity and justice, after eight years in the north, it should have gone to the south.”

The former governor noted that the north had held the presidency for two consecutive terms, and it was only right for power to shift southward in 2023. He criticised the Peoples Democratic Party for failing to honour this unwritten zoning principle.

Ortom said he had no regrets working against his party’s presidential candidate and was prepared to sacrifice his political ambition for the sake of his convictions.

“I made my position clear. I didn’t want to be a hypocrite or pretend. That’s why I worked against the PDP in the 2023 election,” he said. “I even said I was ready to lose my senatorial bid because I believed it was more important to stand for justice, equity, and fairness.”

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His comments come amid ongoing debates about zoning and political balance in Nigeria’s leadership structure. Ortom’s stance highlights continued divisions within the PDP and reflects the tension that shaped the last general elections.