2027: Benue women adopt LP, as Och’Idoma bless Deputy Governorship candidate, Obetta

Women across the 9 Local Government Areas of Benue South district, otherwise known as Benue Zone C, have unanimously adopted the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial election in the state.

This was even as, the Paramount Ruler of Benue South, His Royal Majesty, Agaba-Idu, (Dr.) Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, Och’Idoma V, on Wednesday, offered his Royal blessings on the deputy governorship candidate of the party in the state, Hon. Chief (Mrs.) Juliana Emowo Obetta, ahead of the 2027 elections.

Hon. Obetta, a former Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Council and grassroots mobilizer, was nominated by the LP guber candidate, Chief (Dr.) Mathias Byuan, as his running mate, recently in Makurdi, the state capital.

The women of Zone C, led by Princess Rebecca Adah, subsequently organized a civic reception in her honour in Otukpo on Wednesday, where they officially endorsed her candidacy.

Addressing the mammoth gathering of women in his palace, the Och’Idoma lauded Mrs. Obetta, appreciating the first step of her political journey to 2027, to his Palace, saying such gestures attract Royal and divine blessings.

“Your Excellency, I thank you for coming to the palace today. Before many Idoma people knew that you would emerge as the Deputy Governorship Candidate, I had already heard about it. We thank God in everything because, as you rightly said, it is God who gives power. If God could make it possible for me, He can make it possible for anyone. The key to every throne is in the hands of God.

“All you politicians belong to the Och’Idoma. You may come from different places and have your biological fathers, but I urge you all to receive and support politicians irrespective of party affiliation. Anyone who honours his father will surely receive fatherly blessings.

“Before you came here today, God had already answered the prayer of your heart. Before I pray for her, I want you to know that when God has lifted someone, there is little more to say.

“This is the first time she is coming here. I encourage all of you to always visit the palace, even when you are not seeking any political office. This is your home”, Agabaidu said.

While addressing newsmen at the Och’Idoma’s palace, the Labour Party deputy governorship candidate said the visist to Agabaidu was to pay homage and receive Royal blessings before kick-starting activities ahead of 2027. Obetta expressed satisfaction with the reception by the Royal Father and Traditional Council, while appreciating Zone C women for organizing the reception.

Obetta said, “as a true daughter of Idoma land, I cannot start this journey, without coming to pay homage to our Royal Father. And as you can see, the women of Zone C are so excited. They’re so overwhelmed with so much happiness, that they said they must welcome me home, after my nomination.

“So, this is the first time I would be stepping into Zone C after my nomination. And if you step your feet on a land, the first place you go to, is the Royal Palace, to go and receive Royal Blessings. And that’s why we are here – to pay homage to our Royal Father and receive Royal Blessings also. To God be the Glory, he accepted us and blessed us very well”.

Speaking on the large turnout of women and supporters in Benue South, Hon. Obetta said, “when I got to Otukpo burnt bricks this morning and saw the overwhelming crowd of Zone C women, honestly, I didn’t know what to say. I just said to myself, Oh my God, this is happening and it’s real. I was over excited. The women are super happy because this is the first time they are getting such a recognition.

“They have always said the place of women is in the kitchen, or women’s education ends in kitchen. Of course we will take care of the kitchen, but we also want to take part, we want to sit at that table where decisions concerning the state are being taken.

“We are not asking for too much. We are not rubbing shoulders with the men. We are only asking for 35% affirmative action. For instance, if you have a table with 10 chairs, give us (the women) 3 or 4 out of the chairs. That’s all we are asking for. Let’s be able to contribute our own quota to the development of our dear state. That’s all we are asking for! And this is the first time a political party is doing this for us. The women are excited. This election is not going to be about political party, it’s going to be about the individual candidates.

“And the women are ready, not just the Zone C women alone, but the entire Benue State women are ready, to queue behind this political party known as Labour Party, Mama, Papa & Pipkin. The women will come out en masse and speak with one voice, and I assure you that you shall all be invited to my inauguration as the Deputy Governor of Benue State, come May 29, 2027, by the grace of God”.

In her welcome address, the Convener and women leader of Zone C, Hon. Princess Rebecca Adah, lauded the “visionary leadership” of the Deputy Spokesperson of House of Representatives and the leader of Labour Party in the state, Hon. Chief Philip Agbese, which “has created opportunities for women to participate actively and meaningfully in the affairs of the party”.

“On behalf of the women in Zone C, I want to appreciate the Labour Party for this honour done to us. This nomination is not only a victory for Hon. Juliana Obetta, but also a significant milestone for the women across Benue State, who have continued to contribute to the growth and development of our dear State.

“The women of Zone C stand firmly with Hon. Juliana Obetta and pledge their total support to her, believing that she would justify the confidence reposed on her, by contributing meaningfully to the development of our dear Benue State”, she added.

On her part, the Benue State Women Leader of Labour Party, Hon. Mrs. Dorathy Kumachivir, charged the women to show their numerical strength on the day of election by voting overwhelmingly for Dr. Byuan and Hon. Obetta, affirming that the duo has what it takes to rescue Benue State from its comatose.

“On the day of election, we want the polling units to be flooded with women. Let women take the lead. This is the time to prove, between men and women, who has the highest population in Benue State. It is women o’clock! And we want it happen. Your (Zone C) daughter, Hon. Chief (Mrs.) Juliana Obetta, and His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Mathias Terwase Byuan, have all the capacity it takes, to make Benue great again. With them, I can assure you, development will be like water”, she stressed.