Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has flatly denied rumors of a 2027 presidential bid, dismissing a viral social media campaign poster bearing his name as entirely fake.
In what appears to be a calculated response to the rapid spread of the material across various online platforms, Ortom’s camp issued an unambiguous denial on Thursday, describing the poster as not only fabricated but also as part of a deliberate effort to sow political confusion ahead of the next election cycle.
The denial was contained in a statement released by his media adviser and consultant, Terver Akase, who spoke with characteristic firmness on behalf of the former governor.
“The attention of His Excellency Samuel Ortom has been drawn to a fake poster being circulated on social media alleging that he is preparing to run for president in 2027,” Akase stated. “It is entirely false, unfounded, and designed by mischief makers to spread confusion and fuel baseless political speculation.”
The statement went further to clarify that Ortom has neither declared interest in the presidency nor in any other elective office ahead of 2027, a position his camp insists he has consistently maintained and repeatedly communicated to the public.
The swift and forceful nature of Thursday’s denial raises broader questions about the increasingly murky landscape of Nigeria’s pre-election political environment, where social media has become a fertile ground for unsolicited campaign materials, speculative narratives, and outright disinformation.
Political analysts have noted that the proliferation of fake campaign posters bearing the likenesses of prominent political figures has become a recurring feature in Nigerian politics, often deployed to test public sentiment, generate controversy, or deliberately destabilize individuals ahead of formal campaign seasons.
Whether the poster targeting Ortom falls into one or several of these categories remains unclear. However, the former governor’s team appears in no doubt about the intent, laying the blame squarely at the feet of unnamed political adversaries.
Through Akase, Ortom appealed to Nigerians to exercise discernment in the face of what his camp characterizes as a coordinated campaign of misinformation. The public was urged to disregard the poster entirely and to resist amplifying content that, in the camp’s view, serves no purpose beyond deceiving unsuspecting citizens and inflaming political passions without basis.
The appeal reflects growing concern among senior political figures about the role of unregulated social media content in shaping and distorting public perception during politically sensitive periods.
Ortom, who governed Benue State from 2015 to 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), remains an influential voice in Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly in the Middle Belt region.
His tenure was marked by fierce opposition to open grazing and repeated clashes with the federal government over its handling of herder-farmer conflicts in Benue State, stances that earned him both national attention and significant grassroots sympathy.
It is perhaps that lingering public profile that has made him a target of speculation or, as his camp would argue, manipulation as political actors begin quietly positioning themselves for the 2027 contest.
For now, at least, Samuel Ortom says he is not among them.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has categorically denied any interest in the 2027 presidential race, dismissing a viral campaign poster as fake and the work of politically motivated individuals bent on spreading disinformation.
In an era where social media can manufacture political narratives overnight, Nigerians must approach unverified campaign materials with critical scrutiny.
Until a credible, firsthand declaration emerges directly from a candidate, such posters deserve nothing more than informed skepticism and silence.
