Former Benue State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Austin Agada, said on TVC’s Politics Tonight that he and other stakeholders are ready to deliver more votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 to help secure a landslide victory. He also stated that Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia had not given him any reason to support the governor’s re-election.
That claim has prompted questions about whether Agada can even deliver his home local government of Ogbadibo for Tinubu. In the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu received 3,129 votes in Ogbadibo while Peter Obi secured 10,154. Agada was the APC State Chairman at the time. Elections are shaped by many factors and voters make their own choices, as shown by the fact that Governor Alia won the same local government in the governorship poll. Still, Agada’s new promise to deliver more votes raises the question of what has changed since 2023.
Reports at the time indicated that Agada lost his own polling unit, ward and local government in the presidential and National Assembly elections. His ward later suspended him over allegations of anti-party activities, though he rejected the claims. These events mean any pledge of a landslide must be demonstrated on the ground through rebuilt structures, unity among party groups and regained grassroots support, rather than announced on television.
Agada’s personal decision not to support Governor Alia’s re-election does not erase the work visible across Benue. In healthcare, the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi has been upgraded, general hospitals and primary healthcare centres improved, medical workers employed and equipment supplied. In education, the administration has employed 9,700 primary school teachers, built new classrooms and introduced free education from Basic 1 to 9. More than 50 road projects have been completed with others ongoing, alongside drainage works, underpasses in Makurdi and Gboko, and preparations for a flyover in Otukpo.
Agriculture continues to receive support through inputs, mechanisation and related programmes. Salaries and pensions are paid regularly, often on or before the 25th of each month. The government is also working to revive industries, including the Food Basket Brewery, bread and water factories, fruit juice projects and efforts to restore Taraku Mills, Otukpo Burnt Bricks and the Igumale Cement Factory. Security challenges remain, but collaboration with agencies continues alongside investments in youth development, ICT and other infrastructure.
The 2027 contest will be new and political situations can change. Agada may strengthen his structure in Ogbadibo. However, if he is promising a landslide for Tinubu, the previous result provides a clear test that must be met through actual delivery rather than statements. Governor Alia has a record that residents can see and judge. The debate should therefore weigh what has been done in roads, education, healthcare, agriculture, workers’ welfare and other sectors, not only personal disagreements between politicians. In the end, the people of Ogbadibo will decide.
