Hannah Uleko Odeh: The Lone Woman In Benue South 2027 Senate Race

As political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, the contest for the Benue South Senatorial District seat is taking an interesting dimension with Hannie Uleko Odeh emerging as the only female candidate in the race and the only candidate from the Igede-speaking bloc of the district.

Odeh, who is from Obi Local Government Area, is contesting the senatorial seat on the platform of the National Democratic Party (NDP). Her candidacy introduces both gender and geographical representation into a race traditionally dominated by male politicians and established political structures.

For a senatorial district made up of nine local government areas and several distinct political constituencies, her emergence gives voters another option to consider as the 2027 contest gradually takes shape. Beyond the traditional calculations around party strength, incumbency and political structures, Odeh’s candidacy places the question of women’s participation in elective politics at the centre of the Zone C conversation.

The woman behind the candidacy

Odeh’s campaign message is built around what she describes as a need for “excellent service, accountable leadership and good governance.” In a message to voters in the district, she called on the people of Zone C to see the election as an opportunity to make a meaningful choice about the quality of leadership they want.

“My people of Zone C, this is our time to choose excellent service, accountable leadership, and good governance,” she said in her campaign message.

Her message presents her candidacy as one focused less on political confrontation and more on service delivery. She is seeking to persuade voters that leadership should be measured by its impact on ordinary people and by the ability of elected representatives to remain accountable to their constituents.

A voice from Obi

Coming from Obi LGA, Odeh represents one of the important constituencies within Benue South. Her candidacy could therefore attract particular attention among voters who believe that geographical diversity should play a role in determining who represents the district at the National Assembly.

Obi is part of the Igede-speaking area of Benue South, and Odeh’s emergence makes her the only Igede candidate in the senatorial contest, according to the field of candidates being tracked for the 2027 race.

That identity is likely to form part of the political conversation around her candidacy. However, the bigger question will be whether she can transform that geographical and cultural connection into a broader district-wide coalition capable of competing across the nine LGAs.

The gender factor

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of Odeh’s candidacy is that she is the only woman in the race.

In a political environment where senatorial contests in Benue South have largely featured men, her participation could broaden the conversation about women’s representation in elected offices. Her campaign gives female voters, women’s organisations and other advocates of greater female participation in politics a candidate whose presence alone challenges the traditionally male-dominated character of the contest.

But being the only female candidate does not automatically translate into electoral advantage. Odeh will still have to compete on the same political terrain as her male counterparts, convincing voters across the district that she possesses the capacity, experience and programme to effectively represent them in the Senate.

Her six-point agenda

The NDP candidate has also presented a development agenda covering jobs and economic growth, education, healthcare, infrastructure and unity, among other priorities.

Her campaign material describes her as “a voice for real change”, while emphasising the need for improved economic opportunities and better public services.

Employment and economic growth feature prominently in the message. For a district where agriculture remains a major economic activity and young people continue to seek opportunities, the question of how elected representatives can attract investment, support entrepreneurship and create pathways to employment will remain important during the campaign.

Education is another major plank of her agenda. Odeh is promising to make better education part of her legislative priorities, an issue that could resonate with families concerned about the quality and accessibility of education across rural communities.

Healthcare also features prominently in her campaign. Her promise of quality healthcare speaks to the need for stronger primary healthcare services and better access to medical facilities, particularly in communities far from major urban centres.

Infrastructure completes another major part of her message. Roads, electricity, water and other public infrastructure remain important issues for communities across Benue South, making infrastructure development a potentially significant electoral issue.

Beyond Obi: The challenge of Zone C

While Odeh’s origin in Obi may provide her with a natural constituency, the Senate seat is a Benue South-wide position, meaning the real test will be her ability to appeal beyond her home LGA.

The district encompasses Ado, Agatu, Apa, Obi, Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Oju, Okpokwu and Otukpo. Each has its own political interests and influential community and political leaders.

For Odeh, therefore, the challenge is to build a campaign that moves beyond identity and presents her as a candidate for the entire senatorial district. Her “voice of change” message will have to resonate with voters in communities that may have different expectations from those in Obi.

The weight of political competition

Odeh is entering a race in which she faces candidates with varying degrees of political experience, established networks and party structures. That makes her candidacy an uphill political task, particularly in a senatorial contest where mobilisation, funding, grassroots organisation and party machinery can significantly influence electoral outcomes.

Yet political races are not always determined solely by established structures. Candidates who succeed in presenting themselves as alternatives to the political establishment can sometimes tap into voter dissatisfaction and demand for change.

Odeh’s campaign appears to be positioning itself in that space, asking voters to look beyond traditional political calculations and consider competence, accountability and service.

A different conversation for 2027

The significance of Odeh’s candidacy may ultimately extend beyond whether she wins the senatorial seat. As the only woman and only Igede candidate in the race, her participation has already introduced questions about gender, geographical representation and the place of women in Benue South politics.

Her campaign will now have to turn those symbolic advantages into a practical political movement capable of competing across the district.

For the voters of Zone C, the 2027 election presents a choice among candidates with different backgrounds, parties and political narratives. For Odeh, the task is particularly demanding: to convince an electorate accustomed to male-dominated Senate contests that an Igede woman from Obi LGA can offer a credible district-wide alternative.