Governor Hyacinth Alia flagged off his re-election campaign in Kwande, cradle of Tiv civilization and home of late former Governor Aper Aku and Michael Aondoakaa, his PDP rival in the 2027 elections during his much criticized thank-you tour of the Jechira axis of the north eastern senatorial zone. Some commentators questioned the insensitivity of the timing of the visit with the Benue State chapter of the NDC in a statement 23/08/2026 condemning it as a mockery, and wondering why the "Governor and his party failed to visit Sankera when its people were attacked and loved ones brutally killed, but have now swiftly organised what appears to be a political jamboree in the same community." Terver Akase, media aide to former Governor Samuel Ortom similarly wondered why Alia had not visited the area in the aftermath of series of attacks, the most recent which occured two weeks ago. Leading Alia's assault on Kwande, Gabriel Suswam, former Governor told Aondoakaa and his Jechira kin to set aside any thoughts of governing Benue State until 2031 after Alia must have completed his second tenure in office. Suswam, who spoke at a town hall meeting in Adikpo, said Alia deserves a second tenure because all former governors of the state after Aku, including himself, had enjoyed the privilege. “The first executive governor of Benue state, Aper Aku was re-elected for a second term but a military coup truncated the administration; from George Akume in 1999 to Gabriel Suswam to Samuel Ortom, Benue people re-elected us for second terms. “We should therefore allow Jechira intermediate area in zone A through Governor Hyacinth Alia to complete its two terms. Kwande intermediate area should not contest against Alia in 2027. In 2031 it will be the turn of Kwande to produce the governor," he said, arguing that Governor Alia has performed beyond doubt and needed another term to complete the projects he has initiated. "There is need to re-elect him," Suswam asserted, and urged Benue people to vote massively for Alia in 2027 for more dividends of democracy and development of the state.

Posted: 2months ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 18 October 2026