Power shift 2023: Top 7 Idoma politicians tipped for Benue governorship seat

It’s no longer news that the Idoma, the second-largest ethnic group in Benue State, have never produced a governor since the creation of the state 45 years ago.

With 2023 on the horizon, the call for an Idoma Governor in Benue State is becoming louder, especially with the submission in some quarters of Zone A and B that since all the Tiv ruling houses have produced governors, it is only fair that the next chief executive of the state should emerge from Zone C.

IDOMA VOICE correspondent, Sunny Green Itodo briefly profiles five of the top aspirants from Idoma, examining their chances of succeeding Governor Samuel Ortom in 2023.

BENSON ABOUNU

The current Deputy Governor of Benue was picked as the running mate of Governor Samuel Ortom in 2015 under the banner of All Progressives Congress (APC) but later defected with his principal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which they were re-elected for a second tenure in 2019.

Though yet to publicly declare his intention to succeed his boss, reliable sources claim that the number two citizen is interested in the race to Benue People’s House in 2023.

If the reports are right, Deputy Governor Abounu has ample chances to succeed his boss, especially if the Tiv people, who are the majority in the state and the ruling party in the state PDP, zone the governorship to Benue South Senatorial District where Abounu hails from.

Abounu, who would be 74 in July of 2023, is an engineer and hails from Otukpo, the most populous local government area in Zone C. He came to public limelight in Benue State when he contested for governor as the standard-bearer of Social Democratic Party, SDP, and thereafter served as Special Adviser to Governor Moses Adasu from 1992 to 1993.

Given his stewardship at various public service posts held in the past, one can safely assert that Abounu has garnered the needed experience and political acumen to pilot the affairs of the state if given the chance in 2023.

Popularity wise, the Deputy Governor’s political followership has further skyrocketed following his outstanding performance as the Chairman of the Benue COVID-19 Committee. He also currently enjoys enormous support of the Tiv who appreciate his diligence and loyalty to their son, Samuel Ortom, as his faithful and dutiful second-in-command.

If the lot falls on Benue South to produce the next governor of the state and His Excellency, Abounu declares his interest, he will be the candidate to beat.

ABBA MORO

Comrade Abba Moro needs no introduction in the political sphere of Benue, and by extension Nigeria.

Senator Abba Patrick Moro (born 3 July 1956) is a Nigerian educational administrator, politician and philanthropist.

In 2007, he contested for the seat of Benue governor on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where he lost at the primaries.

In 2015, he was appointed as the honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry Of Interior.

Presently, he is the Distinguished Senator representing Benue South senatorial District at the red chamber of the National Assembly.

Although, Senator Moro is yet to declare his intention to contest for the governorship seat in 2023, however, he has been tipped by many especially his teeming supporters who cut across all zones of the state to succeed Governor Ortom come 2023.

STEVEN LAWANI

Steven Obekpa Lawani is a former Deputy Governor of Benue State. He was the National Deputy Chairman of National Republican Convention (NRC).

Lawani, who would be 75 by December 2022, a few months before the elections of 2023,  hails from Otukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue South. He led a vigorous governorship campaign in 2015 after his tenure as deputy governor elapsed, but finished second at the PDP primary to Tehemehn Tazoor, who lost to the then APC governorship candidate, Samuel Ortom at the poll.

In 2019, he contested against the PDP candidate and eventual winner, Comrade Abba Moro, in the Benue South senatorial election.

Lawani is a Fellow of the Nigeria Hotels and Catering Institute and Nigeria Institute of Economics. In 2004, he was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

With 2023 approaching—and as the call for an Idoma governor continue to gain crescendo—Chief Lawani, who holds the traditional title of the Ochagwu K’Idoma, has reportedly revived his interest in the governorship seat which he has for years steadily contested for.

DAN ONJEH

Daniel Onjeh is a politician, activist, former president of West African Students’ Union and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). He is currently the Chairman Governing Board of Project Development Institute (PRODA).

He etched his name into the political landscape of Zone C and Benue State when he became the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the main challenger of former Senate President, David Mark, in the 2015 Benue South Senatorial election.

Though he lost to the (now retired) David Mark (also in the February 2016 re-run), the Ogbadibo-born activist is generally adjudged by many political players to have fought a good fight, almost bringing to a halt a juggernaut that had moved unchallenged for 16 years.

He again showed interest to contest against Mark’s eventual successor and PDP candidate in the 2019 Benue South Senatorial election, Abba Moro but was defeated at the APC primaries by Chief Steven Lawani.

The Ghana-trained former unionist, who is the youngest among the aspirants, enjoys a large following of Benue’s youthful population.

Owing to his charisma, the young comrade will be a tough contender. Although his posters are making the rounds on social media, courtesy of his supporters, he is yet to make his intention known publicly.

He is also likely to gain more support from ‘the powers that be’ who may see him as the candidate with a listening ear if they are left with no option than to shift power to Zone C.

 MATHIAS OYIGEYA

By the next general elections in 2023, Mathias Oyigeya will be 60 years old. A medical practitioner and philanthropist, he is the most prominent, among the political gladiators, in terms of resounding achievements, from his time as the Medical Director of Federal Medical Center, Makurdi. His excellent performance contributed to the growing calls for an Idoma Governor in some Tiv quarters, a gesture believed to have influenced his decision to resign his position as the medical director of FMC, in order to be able to get himself properly girded ahead of the 2015 governorship election, which, unfortunately, ended for him at the PDP primaries.

The Efekwo-Otukpa native is reportedly showing interest in the race to succeed his former opponent at the PDP primaries, Governor Samuel Ortom, come 2023. His governorship campaign posters were also spotted online recently. If indeed, he is vying for the Governor´s Office once again, Dr Oyigeya, will no doubt enjoy the support of Tiv and Idoma people alike.

He has won the confidence of his Idoma kin and also earned the trust of the Tiv.

Back home, he holds the traditional title of ‘Oyame K’Efekwo’ which roughly translates as “the overdoer of Efekwo land”.

He singlehandedly brought the FMC Makurdi, Efekwo outreach centre to Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, to his rural community which hitherto had no healthcare facility.

Dr. Oyigeya is a Member, Board of Management, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, and Member, Governing Board, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi.

Oyigeya has the experience and the popularity to clinch the governorship seat and move the state forward if all parties sheath their swords of tribalism in favour of merit in the 2023 polls.

ADA CHENGE

Dr Ada Chenge is first female managing director of Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority.

A renowned politician, she was the only female aspirant in the contest for the 2015 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship ticket. She also contested and lost the 2011 primaries of the PDP.

She has been said to be eyeing the governorship seat again. So far, she is the only female aspirant on this list. Nonetheless, Chenge doesn’t agree that she has limited chances in a male-dominated world.

She made her intention known on Owukpa Advocacy Forum, where she claimed Mother Mary (Holy Mary, Mother of Jesus) has given her the mandate as the next governor of Benue State.

No doubt, when Dr Change eventually officially declares her aspiration to succeed Governor Samuel Ortom in the Benue Peoples’ House come 2023, her candidature will not be a walkover.

 SAM ODE

Dr. Sam Ode is an egalitarian politician, and seasoned administrator.

He is a former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, and erstwhile Director General of Niger River Basin Authority.

He contested for Benue governorship in 2015 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but lost at the primaries.

In 2019, Chief Sam Ode, was the running mate of the All Progressives Congress’ governorship candidate, Barr. Emmanuel Jime. Sadly, they lost to the incumbent Governor, Samuel Ortom of the PDP.

As the 2023 governorship race zooms closer, his supporters are calling on him to run for the number seat in the State.

Some base their arguments on the fact that Dr. Sam Ode, with mixed Idoma-Tiv parentage has for long been considered to be the first man to break the ceiling against an Idoma man becoming governor of Benue State. Though born of an Idoma father, his maternal parentage flows directly from the late Senator Joseph Tarka, one of the richest torchbearers of Tiv political hegemony.