Join our WhatsApp channel HERE for the latest Benue news and updates!
In a colourful blend of family devotion and deft political networking, Thomas Tyolumun Unongo, the sole PDP aspirant for the Benue Zone A Senatorial seat, turned his sister’s golden jubilee into one of the most talked-about events in the state over the weekend.
Chief Mrs Mimi Azape-Orubibi clocked 50 on a grand scale, and her younger brother, the Makurdi-based businessman-turned-politician, left no one in doubt about his deep pockets, wide reach and grassroots appeal.
The celebration kicked off on 15 November 2025 when Unongo stormed Makurdi and headed straight to St Patricia Parish, Manyam community in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area. A well-attended thanksgiving Mass drew prominent politicians, traditional rulers, clergy, government officials and hundreds of supporters who accorded the aspirant a rousing standing ovation the moment he stepped into the church.
In a gesture that warmed hearts across the congregation, Unongo announced a personal donation of one million naira to the parish for development projects, thanking the church for its spiritual support over the years.
From the church, the carnival moved to a lively reception where the aspirant mingled freely with guests, including members of the “Iwanger Mothers,” a group of widows empowered by his celebrant sister. The goodwill was palpable.
The grand finale took place in Unongo village, Kendev community, where thousands trooped out to welcome their son. Under the ancestral skies, Tyolumun Unongo addressed key stakeholders from across Zone A and received public pledges of loyalty from no fewer than 13 political groups cutting across party lines, a clear signal that his senatorial bid enjoys broad-based support ahead of the PDP primaries.
For a man seeking to represent Benue North-East in the upper chamber, the weekend offered a masterclass in combining family celebration with strategic political outreach. From the altar to the village square, Unongo reminded everyone why his name remains the one to beat in the Zone A race.
As the drums fade and the canopies come down, one message rings loud: in Benue politics, Tyolumun Unongo is not just participating; he is very much in charge of the tempo.
