{
  "id": 6790118,
  "title": "Why was Ortom’s vehicle used for Peter Obi’s makurdi visit – Gov Alia’s aide asks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/why-was-ortoms-vehicle-used-for-peter-obis-makurdi-visit-gov-alias",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-11T19:40:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/11/why-was-ortoms-vehicle-used-for-peter-obis-makurdi-visit-gov-alias-aide-asks/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, raised questions on Friday regarding the use of a vehicle allegedly linked to former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom for presidential candidate Peter Obi's visit to Makurdi. The circumstances surrounding Obi's movement in and out of the state had generated public interest, with reports suggesting an attempt to restrict his movement, Kula stated at a press conference in Benue State Government House. According to Kula, the state government had initiated an investigation into the incident, with preliminary information indicating that Obi's vehicle was a Toyota Land Cruiser registered in Ortom's name, bearing the registration number ABUJA: GWA 608 BT. The vehicle was registered to Ortom and associated with an address in Judges Quarters, Makurdi, based on records from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). Kula provided additional vehicle details obtained from the FRSC records, including the vehicle's make, model, chassis number, and application date. This development raised questions about the political relationship between Ortom and Obi, particularly given Ortom's expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election bid. Kula noted that Ortom had accused Tinubu of being involved in the 2027 presidential election, while his influence within the PDP in Benue State was still significant. Ortom had played a role in the emergence of Michael Kaase Aondoakaa as the party's governorship candidate in the state. Kula questioned how someone who claimed to be working for Tinubu could use his vehicle for another presidential candidate. The spokesman suggested that the alleged use of Ortom's vehicle could indicate a discrepancy between Ortom's public political position and his private political relationships. This development had reignited discussions about Ortom's political influence in Benue as the state prepared for the 2027 elections. Kula also criticized Ortom's eight-year administration, accusing him of maladministration and attempting to retain political influence through allies and political proxies. The allegations were not independently confirmed by Ortom or his representatives at the time of the statement.",
  "summary": "The alleged involvement of former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, in the recent visit of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), to Makurdi has sparked questions over the political relationship between the two politicians.The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, raised the questions on Friday while addressing a […] Why was Ortom’s…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}