Whoever wins the APC ticket for the 2027 Benue North West Senatorial District (Zone B) election wins at the general poll. This has been the position of pundits who feel the Zone is the biggest bet in the reconciliation between Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Governor of Benue State, and Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Sen Akume, known as the maker of Governors of Benue State, once he seized the stage in 1999, has maintained hold both on his home district and Benue North East, determining to a considerable extent, who gets what at the centre and in Government House Makurdi.
He takes credit for installing former Governor Gabriel Suswam as his successor and later, Chief Samuel Ortom and Fr. Hyacinth Alia, in succession. Through his influence, Senator Barnabas Gemade returned to the senate in 2015 and, in 2023, ensured it was Senator Emmanuel Udende.
Effectively, Sen Akume has maintained hold on Tiv politics, and by extension, development, so much so that if the people are developed, credit is to him and vice versa, having been on the stage since 1999 and continues to wield huge influence.
However, the dynamics appear to be different as we move into 2027. The silence. The ticking of the clock. The permutations. The Fr. Alia effect. The fact that Sen Akume will not be on the ballot in 2027. And the indisputable fact that Akume is busy in Abuja as Nigeria’s top diplomat and is caught between local and national politics.
But not the silence. And it may not even be the Fr. Alia effect. Zone B is moving into 2027 pregnant. A truce in the cold war between Fr. Alia and Sen Akume was entered, effectively bringing an end to the feud between the two leaders and APC internal wrangling in the state.
So, what is in there as the parties prepare for the showdown early next year? Here is a look at the dynamics, with the aspirants in view.
Sen Titus Zam
Sen Zam is a former Local Government Council (LGC) Chairman, Special Adviser, and the incumbent Benue North West (Zone B) Senator. He defeated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Governor Samuel Ortom (as he then was) for the Zone B seat at the Senate of the National Assembly in 2023.
In addition to enabling the engagement of constituents in federal establishments, Sen Zam has to his credit several Empowerment programmes as well as the provision of water, construction of streets in Gwer West and Buruku Local Government Areas (LGAs).
He is, however, not popular with “the masses,” having been a core loyalist of Sen Akume. This is a major impediment to his aspiration. Otherwise, performance-wise, Sen Zam stands taller than his predecessors.
Barr. Emmanuel Jime
Former two-term member, House of Representatives, Makurdi/Guma (2007-2014/PDP) and 2019 Benue APC Governorship candidate, is seeking to replace Sen Zam at the Senate.
A performing representative in his days, the recent judgment reinstating scores of young Tiv graduates at the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), where he last served, pundits say has further given credence to his impeccable records in public service.
Rep Jime himself said after the judgment that he was “vindicated.”
ACG Aber Benjamin Terseer (retd)
ACG Aber, a disciplined public servant, a reform-minded leader, a mentor to youth, a believer in women’s empowerment, whose life has been shaped by hard work, honesty, humility, public service, and the fear of God is promising that he will not disappoint the people if they support him to win elections to the senate. He is the spouse of the Secretary to the State Government (of Benue), Deborah Aber, Esq.
“I am here today because it is the making of God. I have been living a quiet life after retirement. But I have been prompted, and these young people, the people I helped while still in service, said they would pick the forms for me. That’s what they have done. And I said let them bring it here so that you will see that I’ve not put you to shame while I was out there working,” ACG Aber (retd) told his people after nomination and expression of interest forms were picked for him.
“I am assuring you that in these seven LGAs (that comprise Zone B), I will get people who will work for our Senatorial District. I will be accessible. I will not disappoint you because I know exactly what a senator can do.
“I am not going there for myself but for the people of Zone B. I am here to support my governor so that Benue will be greater,” ACG Aber (retd) said, stating that he is making the promises in the presence of God and the people.
While both Jime and ACG Aber count on individual strengths and Fr. Alia’s goodwill, Sen Zam stands in the gap between Sen Akume and the governor. Would Sen Akume let go for the 2027 Zone B APC decider to emerge from ACG Aber and Jime? Or would Fr. Alia, allow Sen Akume to have his way?
May 18 promises to provide the answer. In the interim, it is between automatic tickets and direct primary elections in Benue North West.
