Former Justice Minister Michael Aondoakaa Identifies Senator George Akume as Leader of Cross-Party Strategic Partnership in Benue

Michael Aondoakaa confirms SGF George Akume and Samuel Ortom lead a new strategic alliance between APC and PDP in Benue State ahead of future elections.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 9:49 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Daily Independent

Political Alignment Redefines Power Dynamics in Benue State

The political landscape in Benue State is undergoing a significant transformation with the emergence of a formal "Strategic Partnership" between the state’s two dominant political entities. Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, revealed that Senator George Akume, the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has assumed the leadership of this cross-party coalition. This development marks a departure from traditional adversarial politics, as it brings together high-ranking members of both the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party to coordinate on regional governance and future electoral stability.

Confirmation of Leadership Structure and Executive Endorsement

The details of this alliance were made public during an expanded caucus meeting of the PDP in Makurdi, where Aondoakaa presented the new hierarchy to a crowd of political stakeholders and governorship hopefuls. According to Aondoakaa, while Senator Akume serves as the primary leader of the initiative, the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, has taken on the role of deputy leader. This structure was later verified by Yomi Odunuga, the Media Aide to the SGF, who confirmed that Akume is indeed directing the strategic collaboration intended to foster a more unified political front within the state.

Aondoakaa Signals Intention to Return to PDP Fold

The disclosure served as a backdrop for Aondoakaa’s own political maneuvering, as the former minister hinted at a definitive return to the People’s Democratic Party. Despite his recent stint as a governorship aspirant under the APC banner, Aondoakaa described his time away as a sojourn and expressed a desire to be reintegrated into his original political home. He emphasized that for over two years, he has maintained close ties with PDP leadership, specifically Dr. Ortom, and is now waiting for party elders to formally designate his role and "show him where to sit" within the party's revitalized structure.