2027: Owukpa eyes Governorship, Senate, Reps seats as political reawakening sweeps Benue South

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, a political reawakening is shaking the quiet hills of Owukpa, a district in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, IDOMA VOICE reports.

Once regarded as a sleeping giant of Benue South, the Owukpa ‘Akatekwe’ community is now wide awake, mobilizing fiercely for what many describe as a political revolution.

For years, the people of Owukpa stood on the fringes of elective politics, content to watch from the sidelines while others took the stage. But this time, the story is changing. The community that once whispered now speaks boldly, determined to claim its share of political representation across Benue State.

From the governorship to the state assembly, the people of Owukpa are paradingaspirants for virtually every available seat. Their rallying cry is simple: “Enough of neglect. Owukpa must be heard.”

Leading the charge is Arc. Tony Ejeh Obekpa, a real estate mogul and long-standing member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who has declared interest in the Benue governorship.
Obekpa says his ambition is driven by concern over the state’s current trajectory, from insecurity to poor infrastructure and rising unemployment. “Benue needs change, not excuses,” he said, adding that the state cannot afford another four years of ineffective leadership.

However, his biggest challenge will be navigating the APC primaries, where he must contend with the incumbent governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who remains a formidable figure within the party.

Senatorial showdown
Two prominent sons of Owukpa are also gunning for the Benue South Senatorial Seat, Joe Ojobo and Samuel Odoh Onuh.

Joe Ojobo, a veteran of several political battles, has been in and out of the race since 2019. A former Vice Chairman of Ogbadibo LGA, he narrowly lost the PDP ticket to Abba Moro in 2019, and in 2023 came third behind Moro and Dan Onjeh when he defected to the Labour Party. After a brief stint in the Labour Party, Ojobo has now pitched his tent with the APC, where he will face a crowded field that includes Onjeh, Francis Ottah, Nelson Alapa, and his fellow Owukpa kinsman, Samuel Onuh, among others.

Onuh, a former chairman of Ogbadibo LGA and son of the late political leader Chief Lawrence Onuh, is testing his strength in a higher race for the first time. Known for his grassroots following and youth appeal, Onuh’s challenge will be transforming popularity into political structure.

Battle for the Green Chamber
At the House of Representatives level, Owukpa boasts several aspirants across party lines, each eager to make history for the community.

Fred Apochi, a former legislator from Ehaje Ward II, is a well-known grassroots mobilizer who has empowered many youths. With support across Owukpa and beyond, he remains a strong contender, but must first secure his party’s ticket.

Isaac Adoyi, contesting under the PDP, stormed into the race with “glitz and razzmatazz,” as locals describe it. His campaign has quickly gained traction, though he faces a tough battle against Aida Nath Ogwuche, a moneyed heavyweight with deep political roots in the primaries.

Ogwuche Agada, popularly known as Guchi, is eyeing the ADC flag. In his campaign message, he promises to “make the voices of Enone echo in the corridors of power,” pledging security reforms, youth empowerment, and equitable development. His energy and charisma have made him one to watch.

Gabriel Onoja Grogan, from the Agbogiri clan, is also in the race. Grogan has declared a mission to “restore Enone’s pride” and has drawn growing support from community leaders who see him as a bridge between the old and young generations of Owukpa politicians.

Meanwhile, sources have hinted that Ameh Comrade Godwin, a journalist and former aide to Senator Abba Moro, may also be warming up for the House of Representatives race. Though there is loud silence from his camp at the moment, insiders say he had earlier informed his udaburu kinsmen in Abuja about his ambition.

If he eventually joins the race, observers predict a dramatic contest. Ameh commands a significant youth following and possesses strong media influence, assets that could help him shape narratives and decimate opponents in a highly competitive field.

The sleeping giant awakens
From Ehaje to Itabono, from Udaburu to Ai-Odu, the political atmosphere in Owukpa is charged like never before. Meetings, consultations, and mobilization efforts are in full swing. Youths, elders and women’s groups are all aligning in a shared mission, to ensure Owukpa is no longer a pushover in Benue politics.

This groundswell of ambition has turned the once-overlooked community into a key player in the build-up to 2027. Whether this surge translates into actual victories at the polls remains to be seen, but one thing is certain:

Owukpa is awake. And this time, the roar may echo far beyond Akatekwe.