The Labour Party (LP) has selected ex-council boss, Hon. Juliana Obetta Princess as its deputy governorship candidate for the upcoming Benue State governorship election.
This was just 48 hours after the party had selected its governorship candidate Mathias Byuan.

Hon Obetta, a grassroots politician and former executive chairman of Okpokwu LGA of the state, has carved a career in community development and political mobilization.

She is highly active in grassroots politics and community engagement and served in president Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organization.

While addressing newsmen at the party’s secretariat along the Otukpo road in Makurdi during the unveiling of the deputy governorship candidate, Byuan said the candidate was elected unanimously by party members in the state.

“We have worked very closely with party stakeholders in the state and today, they have all agreed that Mrs. Julie Obetta is the candidate for first female governorship candidate and by the grace of God, she will be the first female deputy governor of Benue State in 2027.”

The governorship candidate said the selection of the deputy governorship candidate was part of the party’s agenda to have women participate in governance in 2027.

Byuan promised that if given the mandate, the party would turn the state from civil service to industrial state.

Reacting, Hon Obetta said she was humbled by the honour of being the first female deputy governorship candidate of the party and promised to mobilise the large number of Benue women to vote for the party.

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The member representing Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has been confirmed as the Labour Party’s consensus candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election.

Agbese has been endorsed by members of Labour Party from the three local government areas that make up the federal constituency at a stakeholders meeting attended by thousands of party faithful on Saturday.

The affirmation is coming months after Agbese defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to the Labour Party in face of the lingering internal crisis rocking the Benue State chapter of the ruling party.

Party officials and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, monitored the exercise.

The Returning Officer said the affirmation process was participated by members across the constituency and results showed that Agbese scored 17,789 votes in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, 17,767 votes in Okpokwu Local Government Area and 17,750 votes in Ado Local Government Area.

More than 53,306 votes were cast by party members and supporters across the three councils in the exercise.

Party leaders said the emergence of both candidates demonstrated unity and resolve to boost the Labour Party’s presence in Benue South.

Speaking shortly after his affirmation, Agbese thanked the party members for the confidence reposed in him and promised to continue to provide effective representation to the people of Ado, Ogbadibo and Okpokwu Federal Constituency.

He assured party supporters of his readiness to deliver the democratic dividends and the interest of the constituency at the National Assembly.

“I am very humbled by the overwhelming show of confidence by members of the Labour Party across Ado, Ogbadibo and Okpokwu.

This affirmation is not just for Philip Agbese; it is a mandate to continue serving our people with dedication, integrity and results.”

The journey to 2027 has started and together we shall build a stronger, more united and more prosperous Enone Federal Constituency .

“Politics is supposed to be about service, not personal ambition. I remain committed to attracting more development projects, creating opportunities for our youths and ensuring that the voice of our people remains strong in the National Assembly.”

Some party stakeholders who spoke at the event expressed confidence in Agbese’s leadership and performance, saying his legislative interventions and constituency projects have endeared him to the people.

They said his confirmation was a demonstration of the massive support he enjoys across the federal constituency and expressed optimism that the Labour Party would win big in the 2027 elections.

Meanwhile, a former Chairman of Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Prince Onuh, had emerged as the consensus candidate of the Labour Party for Benue South Senatorial District for the 2027 general elections.

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Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia has called for unity in the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging aggrieved members of the party to embrace reconciliation and work together for the progress of the state.

“There are differences within the party but unity is important for collective success,” the governor said during an interview on Arise News.

“I think every service has to go back to the people. It is the people who get you on board. “We can’t be here without the people,” he said.

He added that leaders must be accountable to citizens and carry everybody along in governance.

“It is very critical that as they are very vital in putting us in those positions, they are the government in a way and we must be listening to them. “We have to work for them and with them,” he said.

Alia admitted there are divisions within the APC in Benue State but said efforts have been made to reconcile stakeholders.

“I know it is one APC in the state but we cannot deny the fact that there are some differences. That is a fact,” he added.

He said a number of reconciliation meetings have been called involving major stakeholders to ease tensions in the party.

“As the state leader of the party, I led the way in calling and inviting all major stakeholders to be part of our reconciliatory meetings. They came, we talked,” he said.

The message during the meetings was clear, he said, urging both aggrieved and satisfied members to prioritise unity.

“Those who are wounded must let go and those who are aggrieved must show restraint so that we can move forward and support this movement,” he said.

Alia also said that unity is needed to boost the party’s prospects in the upcoming elections and governance goals in the state.

Recall that the APC governorship primary election conducted on Thursday has announced the winner as Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia.

The announcement came after the conclusion of voting and collation of results from various centres across the state, with party officials confirming his victory after the exercise.

The post ‘Those Wounded Must Let Go’ – Gov Alia Speaks After Winning APC Return Ticket appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Benue State chapter of the Labour Party on Wednesday conducted the screening exercise for aspirants seeking to contest for seats in the Benue State House of Assembly under the platform of the party ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The screening exercise, which took place at Balcony Hotel, was presided over by the State Chairman of the party, Hon. William Okefie Ochonu, in line with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the constitution of the party.
The exercise recorded a large turnout of aspirants from different state constituencies across Benue State, as party officials and members of the electoral committee supervised the screening process.
Addressing the aspirants before the commencement of the exercise, Hon. William Okefie Ochonu explained the procedures for filling the necessary forms and urged all aspirants to comply strictly with the requirements of the party and the electoral laws.
The state chairman assured the aspirants of the readiness of his office to provide a level playing ground for all qualified persons seeking to contest under the platform of the party. He further stated that every aspirant who complies with the party’s constitution and guidelines would be duly cleared.
The aspirants expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the screening exercise and were seen jubilating after undergoing the process established by the party in accordance with the electoral laws.
Also present at the event were members of the state electoral committee and other party officials working closely with the state chairman to ensure the success of the exercise.
Aspirants screened during the exercise held on May 20, 2026 include Comrade Nathaniel Ogaragbo, an aspirant for Ado State Constituency; Hon. Adakole Peter Okewu, an aspirant for Ogbadibo State Constituency; Hon. Dominic Agbo aka Domex, an aspirant for Okpokwu State Constituency; Hon. Ikpa Isaac Lawrence, an aspirant for Otukpo/Akpa State Constituency; Hon. Abul Baba, an aspirant for Agatu State Constituency; Hon. Abeen Francis, an aspirant for Makurdi South East Constituency; Hon. Moses Okopi Agbo, an aspirant for Ohimini State Constituency; and Hon. Agida Clement Ajiga (A&G), an aspirant for Oju I State Constituency.
Others are Hon. David Agada, an aspirant for Obi State Constituency; Hon. Kelvin Asange, an aspirant for Makurdi South West State Constituency; Hon. Igwe Peter Ochi, an aspirant for Oju II Uwokwu State Constituency; Hon. Lawrence Utsaha, an aspirant for Guma I State Constituency; Hon. Abraham Ngulunga, an aspirant for Gboko West State Constituency; Hon. David Ibaishwa, an aspirant for Katsina-Ala West State Constituency; Hon. Dyako Terhide, an aspirant for Shangev-Tiev State Constituency; and Hon. Agah Titus, an aspirant for Logo State Constituency.
Also screened were Hon. Apav Terhemem, an aspirant for Tombu State Constituency; Hon. Odayiko Ikape Emmanuel, an aspirant for Oju State Constituency; Hon. Ikyura Terna Francis, an aspirant for Gboko East State Constituency; Hon. Akaa Tertsegha Stephen, an aspirant for Nyamatsor State Constituency; Hon. Hwande Vitalis Viashima, an aspirant for Gwer-East State Constituency; Hon. Kondom Francis Ivo, an aspirant for Katsina-Ala East State Constituency; Hon. Jimmy Ogoh Nart, an aspirant for Adoka/Ugboju State Constituency; and Hon. Torough Charles Vaseer, an aspirant for Tarka State Constituency.
Meanwhile, Hon. Ternenge Dooshima Charity, an aspirant for Tiev State Constituency; Msugh Tyotsumeh, an aspirant for Konshisha State Constituency; Hon. Julius Ahobee, an aspirant for Kwande East State Constituency; Hon. Apine Terdoo, an aspirant for Kwande West State Constituency; Hon. Richard Kaakyenge, an aspirant for Gwer-West State Constituency; Hon. Daniel Ngor, an aspirant for Gaav I State Constituency; Hon. Atuluku Kaaondo, an aspirant for Ukum I State Constituency; Hon. Idoko Mercy Ene, an aspirant for Apa State Constituency; Hon. Lanshima Joseph Terna, an aspirant for Mata State Constituency; Hon. Jacob Aondofa Orya, an aspirant for Mbagwa State Constituency; and Hon. Mrs. Tsee Atema Esther, an aspirant for Kyan State Constituency respectively.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) Benue North East Senatorial primary election, which was held throughout the district’s nine Local Government Areas (LGAs), was won by Senator Gabriel Suswam, a former governor of Benue State.

Ukum, Logo, Katsina-Ala, Kwande Ushongo, Vandeikya, and Konshisha are the local government areas.
With 131,083 votes, Suswam defeated his six rivals, including the incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende, who received 1,364 votes overall, and his closest rival, Cephas Tushima, who received 4424.

Senator Titus Zam, the District’s incumbent senator, lost his reelection ticket in the just finished primaries in Benue North West.

The election was held in seven Local Government Areas, including Buruku, Gwer East, Gwer West, Guma, Gboko, Tarka, and Makurdi, according to Chief John Ihembe, the Returning Officer.
Benjamin Aber, a retired Custom Officer and the spouse of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), won the election in Zone B with 93,412 votes, defeating Titus Zam, the incumbent, who received 2,763 votes.

Sabiu Saidu, the chairman of the National Assembly Primary poll Committee, declared the poll to be free, fair, and peaceful on Tuesday at the APC Secretariat in Makurdi.

After receiving the most votes, Saidu proclaimed Mr. Gabriel Suswam and Mr. Benjamin Aber the winners of the election.

“Their declaration is dated today, May 19, 2026, and signed by me, the electoral returning officer, Sabiu Saidu Mahuta,” he stated.

The results of the Benue South Senatorial District primaries were still pending at the time this story was filed.

The post Suswam, Aber Clinch APC Senatorial Tickets In Benue As Udende, Zam Lose Out appeared first on TheNigerian.

The State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has released the report of its State Assembly Screening Committee which disqualified over 20 aspirants from participating in the party’s primaries for the 2027 Benue State House of Assembly elections.

The committee stated the disqualifications were consistent with the party guidelines and constitution.

The APC appealed to all aspirants affected to accept the outcome of the screening process and also enjoined party members to close ranks as the preparation for the 2027 general elections gathers momentum.

The report, released by the Committee Chairman, Dr Auwalu Ishiye and Secretary, Barr. Tijani Abdullahi, listed the affected aspirants who were screened out of the exercise.

Disqualification:

Shio Keghnen Ephraim (Katsina-Ala East)

Oju II Smith Enyi

T.T. Uhimbir (Makurdi South)

Isaac Kyan Aondohemba

Dugha Mark (Gboko East)

Adikpe Ojoi (Oju I)

Victor Johnson (Okpokwu)

Samuel Iyua (Makurdi South)

Ukum (Varvar Titus)

Ubii Abraham ( Gboko West)

Kwaghlu Mannaseh

Elias Odoba (Apa)

Barnabas Iorshase (Gboko West)

Ukum Nyitse James

Willaum Terhide (Buruku)

Adakole Sale (Agatu)

Obor Onor (Oju II)

Odeh Aaron (Oju II)

Tamenor Emmanuel (Makurdi South)

Buruku (Kundan David)

Benjamin Iko (Buruku)

Justice (Kwande West) Any or

Richard Saidu (Ukum)

Andrew Mbagwa Tyonongo

Timothy Cherem Tiev

Akumbur Peter (Gboko West)

Nyiongu Innocent (Makurdi North)

Terkula David (Katsina-Ala West)

Sebastin Ugba (Gwer West)

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Reports reaching our news desk say no fewer than eight persons have been allegedly killed in a suspected cult attack in Aliade Street area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The attack occurred in the early hours of Monday and is said to have caused panic in the area as residents ran for their lives.

Residents said the attackers came to the area at about 2 a.m. on motorcycles and to storm a residential compound while many occupants were sleeping.

Witnesses claimed the gunmen dragged out some residents and opened fire on them.

Four people died instantly in the first phase of the attack, community sources said.

The assailants also attacked some neighbors who ran out after hearing gunshots, causing more casualties, they said.

“It was a chaotic, traumatic incident,” an eyewitness who asked not to be named for security reasons told the BBC.

The attackers were coordinated and left the scene immediately after the shooting, the witness said.

Residents were keeping inside for fear of further attacks, with the incident creating tension in the neighbourhood.

The Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Joseph Keffi, confirmed the incident and blamed it on suspected cult activities.

Preliminary investigations indicate the attack may be connected to a dispute between rival cult groups, Keffi said.

Some innocent residents were victims of violence for allegedly harbouring one of the persons linked to the dispute, he said.

The chairman of the council said security agencies had been mobilised to track down those behind the attack.

He also said a suspected cult leader, believed to be involved in several violent incidents in Makurdi, had been identified, although the suspect was said to have been outside Benue State when the attack happened.

The attack was also confirmed by the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari.

But he said the casualty numbers being released publicly could be higher than the official numbers available to the command.

After investigations and verification processes, Emenari said the police would release a detailed statement.

Security operatives are said to have cordoned off the affected area shortly after the attack while the bodies of the victims were evacuated to different morgues in Makurdi.

Fears of a resurgence of cult-related violence in some parts of Benue State have been amplified by the latest incident. Residents urged security agencies to intensify operations and improve intelligence gathering to avert more attacks.

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Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the Governor of Benue State, has successfully scaled the screening process of the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the party’s 2027 governorship primaries.

Alia was cleared to join the APC governorship primary after the screening exercise held on Friday at the Plateau State Governor’s Lodge, the venue for screening incumbent governors seeking re-election.

The development was contained in a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula.

The screening committee was headed by the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe.

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Benue Chapter and the Benue State Motorcycle Association, BEMOA procured the Governor Alia’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms.

The leaders of the two groups said their decision was based on what they described as the governor’s human-centered leadership style and the “massive turnaround” recorded in the state since he assumed office.

The governor’s clearance was a big boost to his political standing ahead of the 2027 general elections for political observers and stakeholders within the APC.

Governor Alia who assumed office in 2023 on the platform of the APC has continued to emphasize infrastructural development, security, civil service reforms and social welfare as key priorities of his administration.

His successful screening is also seen as the beginning of increased political activities in the APC as the party gears for the next electoral cycle.

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Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says that Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, does not have what it takes to bring Rivers State to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 general elections.

Wike said this on Friday while talking to reporters in Abuja, which is the capital city of the country.

He talked about past elections in which Amaechi, even though he had power and roles in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was unable to win elections in Rivers state.

The minister also talked about the elections in 2015 and 2019. He said that even though the APC had federal support as Director-General of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign, they didn’t do well in the state.

He said that even though he thought there was “federal might” in past elections, he still won the governorship elections in the state. He also said that the state is still politically resistant to such projections.

“Are we saying today that if there were an election in Rivers state today, Rotimi Amaechi would give Rivers state to ADC?”

“Don’t forget, he was a governor. He was in the APC when I ran for governor. Who beat him? At the time, he was the DG of the campaign.

He said, “Remember, in 2019, when I was running for my second term, he was the minister of transportation and the director general of Buhari’s campaign.”

Wike also asked about ADC’s chances on a national level, saying that David Mark, the party’s national chairman and former Senate President, can’t win Benue, his home state.

He said, “For example, in Benue, the former senate president, who is the party’s so-called chairman, his daughter won under APC, and he was in PDP.”

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The Idoma Development Association (IDA) has strongly condemned the recent wave of violent attacks in parts of Benue State, especially the murders in Agatu Local Government Area and the kidnappings of travelers, including Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates, along the Otukpo axis.

Christian Ekre signed a statement on behalf of the IDA that said the events were very disturbing. The group said that the ongoing loss of life and worsening security have made many communities afraid.

The group was worried about the repeated attacks in Agatu, where reports say that several residents have been killed, displaced, or forced to leave their homes because of the violence.

IDA also spoke out against the kidnapping of students on their way to take their UTME, calling it a “cruel and senseless act” that puts the future of the younger generation at risk.

Alex Odoh, the National President of IDA, said that the situation is a serious threat to peace and the survival of the Idoma people.

“We are very upset that people are still dying in our communities. These attacks over and over again are not okay and must not be allowed to go on without punishment.

“The kidnapping of young students on their way to secure their future is especially heartbreaking and shows how unsafe we are now,” he said.

Odoh also made it clear that the group would not stay quiet while neighborhoods become “zones of fear and bloodshed.” He urged officials to act quickly.

The group asked the Benue State Government and security agencies to do more to free the kidnapped victims, punish the people who did it, and make areas that are easy targets for crime safer.

“The Idoma people have the right to live in peace, farm without fear, travel safely, and go to school without fear.” “Anything less than this is a failure of duty,” Odoh said.

IDA also told both the federal and state governments to do more than just condemn the violence and come up with long-term solutions to the problems that are causing insecurity in the area.

The association said again that it stands with the families and communities that have been hurt, and it promised to keep fighting for justice, safety, and the protection of lives and property across Idoma land.

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