Benue 2023: Blessing Onuh tests popularity against Ochacho Jnr in Otukpo/Ohimini

2023, like every electioneering year, would no doubt be a dramatic and ‘maradonic’ -power play- year.

The tussle! Twist!! Money play!!! And the striking new prestige and competitiveness to elective offices in Idomaland,nay Benue State at large, would be breathtakingly beautiful.

In this edition of Benue 2023 election focus, IDOMA VOICE’s Treasure Orokpo looks at the ongoing battle for the soul of Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency.

Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency is the political heartbeat of Benue South. Apart from being the traditional and political headquarters of Idomaland/Zone C, the constituency has churned out political gladiators including the President of the 6th and 7th Senate, David AB Mark.

It also produced the first female House of Representatives member in Benue State in the person of Ada Mark-Ogbole, and the only current female House of Representatives member in Benue State, Blessing Onuh (Nee Mark).

As 2023 beckons, distinguished men and women of the constituency have their eyes cast on the exalted political stool of member House of Representatives Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency like never before.

For the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, otherwise called Enochi, it would be both “money” and “power play” come 2023 considering the caliber of people battling to occupy the legislative seat.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had confirmed that eight persons are vying for the seat in its final list released in September.

Top on the list are incumbent and political icon, Okpokpowulu David Mark’s daughter, Blessing Onuh, popular entrepreneur-cum-philanthropist and big money bag, King Moh Odeh Ochacho’s brother, Alex Ogbe (Alex Atilary), among others.

While Onuh is the current occupant of the seat and ticket holder of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alex Ogbe is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Onuh won the ticket to the Green Chamber on the platform of the APGA in 2019 but defected to the APC in February 2021.

The top two contenders have one thing in common; charitable works.

Onuh performs her philanthropic gestures though her office, and Ogbe carries out his humanity and social responsibilities on the platform of his joint Ochacho Foundation with his billionaire real estate magnet brother, King Moh Odeh.

Aside from the duo of Ogbe and Onuh, there are six other candidates vying for the seat on the various political platforms.

Edeh Sunday of ADC, Yunusa Mohammed Akas of APGA,
Okpoju Ogbole Samuel of Labour Party, Onah Adakole
Emmanuel of NNPP, Okoh Sunday of SDP and Ogah Oche of ZLP.

They have all warmed their ways into the hearts of the people of Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency (especially women and youths) through their charitable works in such a way that one would begin to think that the task of who to choose via the ballot between Onuh and Ogbe or any other candidate would be a difficult choice for the people of Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, but this is politics; only one winner can emerge.