Benue South PDP campaign flag-off: Hunger, anger as Abba Moro’s supporters stranded in Otukpo

Some members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who attended the flag-off of Senator Abba Moro’s campaign in Otukpo were left stranded after the event, with some reportedly spending the night in the open field at St. Andrew Primary School.

The campaign flag-off, held on Saturday, attracted PDP leaders, candidates and supporters from different parts of Benue South as the party formally kicked off Moro’s campaign for another term in the Senate. Reports of the event independently confirm a large turnout of supporters.

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Mike Aondoakaa, SAN, were among prominent party figures at the event.

However, findings by IDOMA VOICE revealed discontent among some party members after the rally over what they described as inadequate welfare arrangements.

Multiple party members who spoke to IDOMA VOICE said supporters were mobilised from different communities to attend the flag-off, with some receiving ₦8,000 each.

According to the sources, the money was expected to cover feeding and other expenses, including accommodation for those who travelled from distant communities and could not return home immediately after the programme.

Some of the affected supporters alleged that the amount was inadequate considering transportation, feeding and accommodation costs.

Those who could not secure accommodation reportedly converged on the premises of St. Andrew Primary School in Otukpo, where some spent the night in the open field.

One of the affected party members, who asked not to be named, told IDOMA VOICE that the situation left several supporters frustrated after travelling considerable distances to participate in the campaign.

Another source said some supporters had expected arrangements to be made for their accommodation because of the distance between Otukpo and their respective communities.

Journalists lament poor mobilisation

Some journalists who travelled from Makurdi to cover the campaign also expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangements made for the media.

Media personnel who spoke to IDOMA VOICE complained that despite travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo for the event, they were either not mobilised or received what some described as a “peanut” compared with the expenses incurred on the trip.

One of the journalists said the situation generated complaints among some members of the press who had expected the organisers to adequately provide for logistics associated with covering the campaign.

A member of the campaign team, who also spoke to IDOMA VOICE on condition of anonymity, attributed the situation to financial constraints.

According to the source, Senator Moro had indicated that there was no money available to meet all the financial expectations surrounding the event.

IDOMA VOICE could not independently verify the campaign team member’s account of what Moro allegedly said.

The development came on the heels of intensifying political activities in Benue South ahead of the 2027 elections.

Moro, who has represented Benue South in the Senate since 2019 and currently serves as Senate Minority Leader, emerged as the PDP candidate for the district after being returned unopposed at the party’s primary in Otukpo in May.

The senator had acknowledged after securing the ticket that the contest ahead would be difficult, while expressing confidence that the PDP would strengthen its structures across Benue South.

With the APC and other opposition parties intensifying their campaigns in the district, the battle for the Benue South senatorial seat is expected to be one of the major political contests in the state in 2027.

Efforts by IDOMA VOICE to get a reaction from Senator Abba Moro’s campaign organisation over the complaints by party members and journalists were unsuccessful as of press time.

The campaign organisation was specifically contacted to clarify the alleged ₦8,000 given to some supporters for logistics, the reported lack of accommodation for members who travelled from distant communities, and claims by a campaign team member that there was no money to meet further expenses. No response had been received at the time of filing this report.