By Samuel Adzegeh. Arrangements are at final stage for the Benue State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to roll out its campaign machinery to formally commence campaigns for the 2027 elections in the State. The NDC, Nigeria's latest political baby is still celebrating its commendable successes since it debuted in the State barely four months ago. Weathering all attempts by the APC led administration in the State to frustrate the party, including twice barring its Presidential candidate His Excellency Peter Obi from accessing Yelwata, a settlement near Makurdi where bandits of Fulani extraction killed more than two hundred helpless citizens during night attacks last year, the party's state leadership last September 22 unveiled its candidates in the forthcoming elections in a courageous announcement of the party's intension to take over the reigns of governance from the APC at all levels of the state. The Alia administration had openly vowed to stop the NDC and its candidates from campaigning in the State and directed Chairman and authorities of Vandeikya local government, home local government of Prof. Terhemba Shija, governorship candidate of the party, from holding a scheduled consultative meeting in the local government, a directive which could not be carried out following the full authorization of the Benue State Police Command and other security agencies in the state. Leveraging on this cooperation and full protection, the Benue NDC held its unveing ceremony in the biggest rally in recent times by any opposition party in the State. The ceremony which took place at the party's gubernatorial office along Makurdi - Apir federal highway right in the centre of the state capital, transformed the entire environment into a mammoth carnival, with the venue not able to contain the crowd, forcing thousands to spill out onto the highway. Preceding the unveiling ceremony was an official convoy of more than a thousand assorted vehicles with full sirens under a heavily armed police escort which led Prof. Shija, his Deputy Dr. Raymond Edoh and other candidates as well as thousands of supporters to the venue. The convoy took off from the Judges Quarters residence of Prof. Shija and snaked through the centre of the state capital to the venue in an unmistakable challenge to the ruling APC administration in Benue State. By the time the convoy arrived its destination, thousands more had joined the original throng. Literally hundreds of support groups including women, youth, and socio-cultural organizations from Benue's twenty three local governments - Idoma, Igede and Tiv as well as Igbo, Yoruba and several others were on hand with spectacular cultural displays in solidarity, all carrying huge banners proclaiming support for the NDC candidates. Amidst this massive atmosphere of excitement and imminent change, the candidates vowed to change the unfortunate conditions in which Benue currently finds itself. Addressing the mammoth crowd, Prof. Shija expressed pleasant surprise at the massive acceptance of the NDC in the state and particularly commended the overwhelming turn-out of women and youth groups at the occasion. Referencing his deputy, the young and dynamic Dr. Edoh, Shija explained that the foundational philosophy of the NDC is on effecting generational change in leadership, empowering youth, women and the under priviledged as well as ensuring fairness to every constituent group in Nigeria. Shija reiterated his commitment that his would be a corrective administration of four years only, after which he plans to hand over to Dr. Edoh, thus transferring power to Benue's Zone C, the Idoma-speaking area and noted that this would ensure logical transfer of political power in the state, thus putting an end to political marginalization and ensuring peace which would ensure that Benue realises its full socio-economic potentials. He assured that four years of his administration would be enough to reset the State on the path to economic recovery. Lamenting the current situation in which a large population of Benue farmers are languishing in IDP camps, Shija said the situation is unacceptable and vowed that implementing the state's anti-open grazing law 2017 would be a priority of his administration. "We shall abolish all IDP camps and end this inhuman situation where we are now ranching human beings while animals are roaming freely," he declared. "We shall implement this law, not caring whether any godfather or tribe is affected. It is a Benue law, legally initiated and passed by the State's House of Assembly, and the administration owes it a duty, indeed is under compulsion, to implement it for the good of the great people of Benue State," Shija asserted. The NDC governorship hopeful also decried the invasion of Benue State by unqualified contractors, a development which he said has been enouraged by the current administration and which he pointed out has resulted in unprecedented capital fight from the State. He expressed excitement at the involvement of highly principled personalities in the Benue NDC project and specifically mentioned Dr. Edoh, former Benue SSG Prof. Alkali, the party's state leader Prof. Onyike and many others. In his comments, Dr. Edoh disclosed that he had stepped down for Shija after several interactions had assured him that they share the same dreams of and commitment to Benue's positive transformation. He emphasized the need for Benue youth to prepare to take over the affairs of the state and encouraged them to work hard and cooperate with the incoming NDC administration at all levels to ensure that the dream becomes reality. A special feature of the ceremony was the unexpected presence of Rt. Honourable (Mrs) Rebecca Apedzan who said she had come out of political retirement to join the NDC after noting the caliber of people in the party. Apedzan testified to Shija's sterling qualities, assuring that he can be trusted with the affairs of Benue State for which he has shown total love and commitment over the years. She disclosed that she, Shija and (now) deputy presidential candidate of the NDC Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were members of the House of Representatives back in 1992, and noted that Shija had even then exhibited amazing leadership qualities and was entrusted with sensitive assignments on which he never failed to deliver. Apedzan assured that with Shija and his Deputy Edoh in the saddle, Benue State would be safe to resume its journey to just and equitable development, adding that with Shija as Governor and Kwankwaso as VP, Benue would have a vital link at the centre, another factor which she said would reset the State on its long overdue journey to economic recovery and development. In separate contributions, the NDC candidates as well as leaders and other stakeholders restated their individual and collective commitment to the party's drive to rescue Benue State and the country at large from the shackles of poverty and underdevelopment. Following the resounding success of the unveiling, the party on September 26 staged a one million-man march in the State capital, an outing which recorded another resounding victory in solidarity with its Presidential candidate and deputy Obi and Kwankwaso respectfully which was again conducted under a peaceful and orderly atmosphere under the watch of heavily armed security personnel including police, DSS and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). Once again addressing the mammoth crowd which turned out at the flag-off at Wurkum round about, Shija expressed confidence that no opponent can match Obi in next year's election. He reminded that even in the heavily rigged 2023 election, and contesting for the first time, Obi had secured six milliin votes across Nigeria. Shija noted that since then, millions have come to discover who the Obi persona is, and that many more have joined to support him. Shija pointed out that Obi's teaming up with Kwankwaso as his running màte in next year's Presidential election has produced a team which no opponents can match. Voting that Nigerian masses will mobilize 30 million voters across the country for Obi and Kwankwaso in next year's election, Shija said, "The holy Bible tells us that there's a time and place for everything. This is is the Obi/Kwankwaso era, and nothing can stop it!" Shija decried the country's past in which he said political leaders had stolen the country blind and asserted that it is time to recover the country's stolen wealth. He called on youth participating in the million-man-march to be law abiding and conduct themselves in a peaceful manner with respect to the security agencies whom he described as "our brothers in uniform". Shija further charged the youth to carefully observe the Benue State capital and note its dismal development, pointing out that the few development structures in the town were mostly achievements of the first civilian governor of the State, late Aper Aku, forty years ago. Leader of the Obi/Kwankwaso movement in Benue State, Dr. Sewuese Apeverga in her comments appreciated Shija for personally joining the march. She described the NDC as the only party with a vision and the mission to resolve Nigeria's multi faceted problems and expressed confidence that Obi and Kwankwaso will deliver if elected into office even as she was sure that Professor Shija will also deliver on his campaign promises when elected Governor of Benue State. ... Adzegeh is Special Adviser (Media) to Prof. Shija

Posted: 3weeks ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 18 October 2026