All appears not to be well with former Governor Samuel Ortom’s “Strategic Partnership” in Benue State, as processes leading to the 2027 general election gather momentum.
Last year, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Chief Ortom, began mobilising for what he termed a “strategic partnership” to unseat his successor in Government House, Makurdi, Fr Hyacinth Alia. Chief Ortom was joined in the partnership by APC bigwigs who opposed the leadership of Fr. Alia. They include Dr Mathias Byuan, Prof. Sebastine Hon, SAN, Chief Mike Aondoakaa, SAN, ESV Godwin Ityoachimin, Dr Terwase Orbunde, Mr Joseoh Waya, and Dr Jeffrey Kuraun.
Incidentally, most of these “partners” were the aspirants who contested the 2023 Benue APC governorship ticket with Fr. Alia but lost out, with Prof. Hon, SAN, a new entrant. The genuineness of the partnership was questioned by critics, who saw it as a quasi-arrangement to massage egos and protest the new order opposed by establishment politicians.
It was not long before critics’ reservations about the partnership’s potential to yield fruitful results began to materialise.
The first sledgehammer came when Sen George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), delivered the “President’s message” during the Benue APC Peace and Reconciliation meeting held at Government House, Makurdi, recently. According to Sen. Akume, the president’s instruction was that Fr. Alia be returned for a second term. He also made the case for automatic tickets for all APC-elected lawmakers, from the state to the National Assembly.
Then emerged Chief Aondoakaa, SAN, as the PDP gubernatorial consensus candidate. Chief Aondoakaa, SAN, is from the Kwande Intermediary Area. From precedent, effective 1999, a power block serves two terms in Government House, after which it passes the baton to the next. It was Jemgbagh (1999-2007), Sankera (2007-2015), Lobi (2015-2023), and now Jechira.
Jechira came to power through Fr. Alia in 2023. Although the eight years rule is an unwritten code, by precedence, Jechira should serve out its term in 2031.
By zoning the governorship, Chief Ortom’s strategic partnership favours Kwande, a bloc that is making strong claims to the Benue North East Senate seat. Next, his wife was returned as a consensus candidate for Benue North West Senatorial District.
A pattern was established. Chief Ortom was “strategically positioning his men.” It was no longer just about the partnership to unseat Fr. Alia. It was a tacit way for Chief Ortom to return to power after he was rejected in 2023. Before him, the partners agreed to comply with “the decision of the party” (Ortom), but right outside the hall, the floodgates of jumping ship were opened.
Dr Byuan is now in the Labour Party (LP) after purchasing the APC Governorship nomination forms. Prof Hon, SAN, SDP, Mr Waya, ADC, with Herman Hembe.
To worsen matters, PDP chieftains from Jechira and PDP 2027 gubernatorial aspirants have expressed “deep displeasure over the recent decision taken by the party regarding the zoning of the governorship position” to Kwande.
The group, in a statement signed by gubernatorial aspirants to wit: Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, Mr Dominic Ucha, Dr Peter Ato, and Dr Ater Simon, is concerned that in 2023 the governorship position was zoned to Jechira, with the understanding that it would be retained for a period of eight (8) years, and now, PDP is reneging on the deal.
While acknowledging the party’s supremacy, they said it was their “firm position that the PDP gubernatorial ticket should remain in Jechira, and not move to Kwande.” The aspirants are also insisting that they “have not, and will not, sell our mandate,” and have called for a review of the “decision in line with the established conventions and principles of the PDP.”
There are also concerns that the PDP may have given its gubernatorial ticket in the state to the “highest bidder – the man with the financial war chest” to slug it out with the APC. Those who hold this view question why the sudden shift in zoning the Governorship to Kwande, when it was zoned to Jechira, who would be completing eight years in 2031.
Sources say the umbrella party thoughtfully considered all the aspirants who indicated interest in seating Fr. Alia in 2027 and, after due consideration of their financial status, arrived at Kwande “for the showdown.”
However, Dr Terver Akase, Media Aide/Consultant to Chief Ortom, who was not forthcoming about the “highest bidder,” said he had not read anywhere of manipulations within the PDP to favour an aspirant (or group).
Meanwhile, PDP publicist in the state, Mr Yima Antyo, has said there was no such thing as the highest bidder. It was the decision of the stakeholders, and all the aspirants accepted the process, even those from Jechira, who described the allegations as “pure work of mischief makers.”
Evidentially, the “strategic partnership” to unseat the governor, according to Sam Agwa, Convener of Benue Open Governance Society (BOGS), “is shaky. They started from two political organisations and have now scattered in all directions, pursuing individual ambitions.”
With Dr Byuan’s defection to LP, Mr Terwase Orbunde is the lone aspirant standing to contest the Benue APC gubernatorial ticket with the incumbent, Fr. Alia.
Will the partnership to unseat Fr. Alia work? Only tike shall tell.
