Ex-Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has accused the Governor Hyacinth Alia administration of witch-hunting perceived opponents in the state.
Ortom, made the accusation while featuring as a guest on the Morning Show of Arise Television on Tuesday.
The former governor lamented that for three years now, the Alia administration has unleashed panic with no regard for the rule of law.
He emphasised that the Alia administration has adopted tactics aimed at silencing perceived opponents and has a penchant for undermining democratic governance in the state.
Ortom pointed out that the current administration has embarked on a campaign of intimidation against political opponents, citing his recent consultations with his kinsmen in the Benue North-West Senatorial District, ahead of his wife’s senatorial aspiration as a case in point.
According to him, Governor Alia has instructed traditional rulers in the affected communities not to attend the engagement, a move Ortom described as an abuse of authority and an attempt to frustrate legitimate activities.
He further stated that the administration has relied heavily on deceit and propaganda to shape public perception, insisting that many people have become increasingly aware of the said tactics and are no longer persuaded by the governor’s gimmicks
Ortom also said the Alia administration has consistently demonstrated contempt for the rule of law, citing the seizure of several vehicles allocated to him as a former governor.
He stated that he challenged the action in court and obtained a judgment in his favour, but lamented that nearly one year after the court verdict, the state government has failed to comply with the directive.
“The government took away the vehicles allocated to me as a former governor. I went to court, the court gave judgment in my favour, but almost one year later, that judgment has not been obeyed,” Ortom said.
The former governor also faulted the Alia administration over what he described as its failure to fulfil key campaign promises, particularly regarding local government autonomy and grassroots development.
He stressed that despite huge allocations accruing to local governments following the removal of fuel subsidy, there is little or no evidence of meaningful development across the 23 local government areas of the state, apart from a few projects concentrated in Makurdi, the state capital.
Ortom expressed disappointment over what he described as the governor’s unwillingness to engage stakeholders on critical issues such as insecurity.
He further said President Bola Tinubu, during his visit to Benue State, after the Yelewata massacre of 2025, had directed Governor Alia to convene a stakeholders’ meeting involving leaders from across the state to discuss security and other pressing issues.
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However, he stated that despite the presidential directive, the meeting has not been convened. According to him, Governor Alia is running Benue State “like a parish,” where critical decisions are determined by one individual rather than through an inclusive and participatory system of governance.
On his position ahead of the 2027 elections, Ortom reaffirmed his support for Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, stating that he would remain loyal to the political position he had publicly declared.
“I am a man who stands by his word. I have already declared my support for President Tinubu and my friend, Nyesom Wike, and I will continue to stand by that position,” he said.
The former governor, however, clarified that within Benue State, his support would be for the governorship ambition of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, as well as other candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 elections.
Ortom maintained that his engagements and interventions are always motivated by his commitment to the welfare of the Benue people, the protection of democratic values, and the pursuit of accountable and inclusive governance in the state.
