As forces mount against the re-election of the Senate Minority leader, Senator Abba Moro, our correspondent, JOHNSON BABAJIDE, writes about the task ahead of the Benue South senator as 2027 general elections approach.
As the hands of clock tick towards 2027 general elections, the race for the Benue South senatorial district will no doubt be interesting.
Senator Abba Moro, the Senate Minority Leader, is the serving senator representing the senatorial district at the red chamber for second term. He has shown interest in the senatorial seat for the third term.
Senator David Mark voluntarily quit the race in 2019 after he spent five terms in the red chamber during which he served as President of the Senate for two terms.
As the race to 2027 begins in earnest, few aspirants have formally signified their interest in the senatorial seat, among them are, one time Commissioner of Finance, David Olofu, who is contesting under the platform of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former member of House of Representatives, representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu, Francis Ottah Agbo, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Other aspirants are Daniel Onjeh and Sam Onuh, both contesting on the platform of the APC.
Factors that may shape the Benue South Senate election.
One of the factors that may likely shape the Benue South senatorial district election is the popularity of the aspirants. Among the aforementioned aspirants, Aba Moro stands tall across the nine local governments that make up the zone.
A grassroots mobiliser who cut his teeth in politics right from the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) era, he was also the backbone of David Mark’s political sojourn in the Senate for five consecutive terms. Aba Moro, as he is popularly called, has been a beacon of hope to several people across his senatorial district and beyond.
He once contested as governor of the state but forces beyond his control halted the ambition, even though this did not deter him from pursuing his political ambition.
By the time Senator David Mark decided to quit the Senate in 2019, all eyes were on Moro to step in, and since he climbed the plum seat, he has used the opportunity to win more friends.
His arch political rival, David Olofu, who hails from Apa local government cannot be described as a political novice, having served as a commissioner of finance under Samuel Ortom’s administration and also as chairman of forum of finance commissioner then.
Olofu, who seeks to represent Zone C in the Senate in 2027 on the platform of the ADC, a party that projects itself as playing clean politics and promises to give a new direction is also a force to be reckoned with in the coming election.
Daniel Onjeh from Ogbadibo LGA only came to limelight in 2015 after he defeated Senator David Mark at the election petition tribunal which ordered a rerun election. Though Onjeh lost the rerun, he has remained politically relevant since then.
He is said to be eyeing the senatorial seat on the platform of the APC.
Francis Ottah Agbo is from Ado LGA and a seasoned journalist who once represented Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency in the green chamber. He cannot be said to be a pushover in politics across the senatorial district, he is seeking to contest the senatorial seat on the platform of APC, other things being equal.
Incumbency factor cannot be ruled out in shaping the Benue South Senate election in 2027. This may likely work in favour of Moro, who many said has already made an impact through the constituency projects scattered across the nine LGAs.
Another factor is the zoning formula, but some political pundits in the senatorial district were of the belief that this does not work in the zone.
According to Peter Ogiri, the Benue South senatorial district could be divided into four federal constituencies, namely, Otukpo/Ohinmini, Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo, Apa/Agatu and Oju/Obi.
Ogiri, who said that both old Okpokwu and old Otukpo had at one time produced senator, with the serving senator also from old Okpokwu, argued that the old Oju should produce the next senator.
Puncturing the argument, Tony Ameh maintained that there is no basis for zoning arrangement when it comes to senatorial seat in the zone and cited Senator David Mark who served for five terms at the red chamber as a reference point.
Ameh said: “There is nothing like zoning arrangement in Benue South senatorial district when it comes to the issue of senate, we have a precedent, David Mark who served for five consecutive terms at the senate hails from Otukpo LGA.
“Aba Moro is serving his second term as senator, he is eligible to continue if the people so decide. That is the reason some people are coming out from Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu axis to slug it out with him.”
Ameh further said that if zoning is to be considered in the 2027 Senate election, then any candidate from Apa/Agatu federal constituency should have the ace.
According to him, since the present political dispensation in 1999, Otukpo/Ohinmini and Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu federal constituencies have been in the saddle.
He said: “Senator David Mark who spent 20 years in the senate hails from Otukpo/ Ohinmini federal constituency while the serving senator, Abba Moro is from Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu federal constituency.
“Should Moro also spend another three terms before it moves to Apa/Agatu?” That is the reason we are saying, zoning arrangement doesn’t work in this zone.
“Nevertheless, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander, I think what we need is good representation and let the people decide.”
Asked if Moro still has the chance of returning to the senate in 2027, Ameh argued in affirmative, saying, “The only person I think can give Moro a good fight is David Olofu but my fear is the party in which he (Olofu) is seeking the election.
“As it stands today, ADC has no strong base in Benue South senatorial district despite the fact that David Mark is the interim chairman of the party,” he said.
Ameh maintained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) still has a stronghold in the Benue South senatorial district. He pointed out that the neglect of the zone by Governor Hyacinth Alia in the near three years of his administration compounded the problem for the ruling (APC) in the zone.
“You can judge from the attendance of the people during their so-called (APC) defection rallies held in this zone last year, as it stands today, Benue South senatorial district is for PDP. Forget all that social media propaganda,” he added.
The UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson once said, if “a week is a long time in politics”, then anything can change in the months ahead, more aspirants may throw their hats in the ring and other factors may spring up to shape the coming election. Until then, people in Benue South senatorial district are watching with keen interest.