Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has declared that the new political coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will not stand the test of time, describing it as something that will “fade like the morning sun.”
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Ortom said he remains fully committed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has no intention of joining the ADC-led coalition. He said he still leads the PDP in Benue State and is a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).
“People are free to join any coalition that they so wish, but for me, and the people that I lead, we remain in PDP,” he said.
Ortom also addressed his decision to work against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election. He said he had no regrets about his actions and maintained that his decision was based on political interest.
“I did not hide it. I have no regret,” he said.
Ortom was part of the G5 – a group of five PDP governors who opposed Atiku’s presidential bid and supported Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) instead. He defended their actions, saying it was not betrayal but a strategic political move.
“Politics is about interest,” he added. “If I have somebody working against my interest and the interest of my people, I have to fight back.”
He also reacted to Atiku’s recent defection from the PDP, saying he was not surprised. Ortom believes the ADC-led coalition will collapse, especially after the ongoing court cases are resolved.
“In any case, even if they survive, if they are through with the litigation that is going on, they will be defeated hands down,” he said.
The comments from Ortom come at a time of growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with several political figures exploring new alliances.