Nigeria: Fake Membership Card Misrepresents Nigerian Politician Samuel Ortom's Party Affiliation

17 February 2026
Africa Check (Johannesburg)
By Motunrayo Joel

Fake membership card misrepresents Nigerian politician Samuel Ortom's party affiliation

IN SHORT: An online image appears to show Samuel Ortom's ruling membership card, but he has denied that it is real and says he remains a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Talk of party defections is circulating widely on social media and blogs ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections.

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One claim, circulating in February 2026, is that Samuel Ortom, a former governor of Benue state and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has registered as a temporary member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party.

Part of a 9 February post on Facebook reads: "Samuel Ortom, former Governor of Benue State, has officially joined the All Progressive Congress (APC). This move comes ahead of his friend and leader Nyesome Wike's planned defection."

The post includes what appears to be Ortom's APC membership card.

Ortom was sworn in as Benue state governor under the APC in 2015, but he switched to the PDP in July 2018 and served two terms, ending in 2023.

Several high-profile politicians have joined the APC, sparking debate about the potential emergence of a one-party state.

The same claim appeared on Facebook here and here. (Note: See other instances of the claim at the end of this report.)

But is it true that Ortom has an APC membership card? We checked.

Fake card

In a statement reported by the media, Ortom denied any plans to join the APC. The statement was signed by his media adviser, Terver Akase.

The statement said the message was false, made up by opponents unhappy with Ortom's political influence.

We found no public statements or official party reports from reliable news sources confirming that Ortom had joined the APC.

Benue info-pedia, a media outlet in Benue, also told Africa Check the message was false.

This false claim also appeared here, here, here, here and here.

Read the original story, with links and other resources.
Africa Check is a non-partisan organisation which promotes accuracy in public debate and in the media. X @AfricaCheck and www.africacheck.org

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