2019: Intrigues Over Benue Senatorial Seats.

In this special report,CEPHAS IORHEMEN reports on the gathering storm in Benue State ahead of the 2019 elections over who represents the three senatorial districts of the state in the Senate

The next general elections seem far away but intense political arithmetic and realignment of forces in Benue State have commenced for the state’s three seats in the Senate. But even as many may want to believe that the epic battle would be that for the governorship of the state, political analysts and observers in the state, however, believe that the battle to represent the state in the upper legislative chamber is certainly one to be watched since indications at the moment shows that it is going to be a battle of titans

Benue North-East

The struggle over who would emerge the next Senator for Benue North East otherwise known as Zone A, will certainly be a battle to watch as political heavyweights, specifically from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are already flexing muscles to outwit each other for the party’s right to challenge the present senator representing the district, Senator Barnabas Gamade of the All Progressives Cngress (APC).

It is no longer a hidden fact that immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, had attempted to grab the party’s ticket in the 2015 elections but lost out. However, Suswam, a two-time House of Representatives member, who represented Sankera Federal Constituency before becoming governor, has never left anyone in doubt of his desire to achieve this dream.

The former governor has already began fresh moves to achieve his dream to sit in the hallowed red chambers come 2019. Suswam who in the last dispensation was believed to have gone into a gentleman agreement with the people of Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, to whom the position is believed to have been rightfully zoned to, has continued to surround himself with politicians from the axis.

This strategy seems to be yielding positive results following his recent reconciliation with one of his biggest known political rivalry, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice). The reconciliation between both men was celebrated by the PDP in the state.

While the move have been described as a first step by Suswam to clinch the senatorial position, those conversant with politics in this zone, especially the Kwande/ Ushongo Federal Constituency claimed that the alignment between Suswam and Aondoakaa may not be unconnected to the former governor’s seemingly biggest threat, Dr. Paul Orhii (a former Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control -NAFDAC), who is also said to be eyeing the Benue North-East senatorial seat.

Orhii who is touted to be in the good books of former President Goodluck Jonathan is believed not only to have blessings from Otuoke but also the war chest to execute the project. Already, reports have it that Orhii has set up a kite-flying committee aimed at testing the waters before the formal declaration of his ambition.

Benue-North West

This senatorial district may be in for its first real political battle since the return to democracy in 1999 as political watchers have predicted a change in the leadership of the zone, which has been under the former governor and three-time senator, Senator George Akume.

What is likely to play out in this zone may be different from that of the other two zones as implosion looms among members of the APC in the area given the perceived feud among leaders of the party. There is no hiding the fact that there is no love lost between two APC bigwigs in the zone – Senator Akume and Hon. Emmanuel Orker Jev, who represents Buruku Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Jev has accused the senator of trying to replace him for daring to stand up to him. His claim is on the heels of the recent invitation and acceptance into the party of Jev’s arch rival, Mr. Terfa Ityav. While Jev claims that Akume is poised to replace him in the House of Representatives with Ityav, he on other hand is positioning to replace the former governor in the Senate as most political leaders in Buruku insists that one of their own should take over the seat in 2019.

Benue South

Benue South senatorial district is the home of former Senate President, David Mark. For those who have studied the politics of this senatorial district, they will agree that this will be the fiercest battle in the political life of the zone as political giants have already lined up to change the status quo in the politics of the zone which has since the return of civil rule in 1999, has produced only one senator who has served five times in the person of Senator Mark.

The two-time Senate president is believed not yet ready to relinquish the seat. Lining up to wrest the ticket from Mark is former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, who is widely known as a grassroots mobiliser.

Moro, who was rumoured to have been the replacement of the former Senate President in the last rerun if Mark was indisposed to returning to the chambers as a floor member, is fingered to be interested in replacing the five-time senator come 2019. The former minister is touted to be responsible for Mark’s victory in the last senatorial rerun, which explains why he is expecting the former Senate president to return the favour by passing the baton at the end of this tenure.

Keen political watchers have nevertheless said that Moro may have commenced alternative moves to pull the carpet off Mark’s feet should he fail to hand the PDP’s ticket to him. Besides the former minister, there are other contenders gearing to take over from Mark, especially on the camp of the ruling APC after a near successful attempt at replacing the former Senate president in the last elections.

Foremost amongst these contenders are Mark’s arch rival, Chief Mike Onoja, who had in the previous elections proved his worth against the former Senate president. Onoja is already traversing the nooks and crannies of the zone to mobilise former lieutenants for the battle.

Also in the battle to unseat Mark is former deputy governor of the state, Chief Steven Lawani. He is rumoured to be making moves to ensure that he grabs the ticket of the APC to slug it out against Mark. Political watchers have already began to signal Lawani’s seriousness as he is believed to have began easing the zip to his deep pockets to grease his way amongst his constituents who claimed he was tight fisted.

According to close associates, the battle for the soft spoken former bank chief is one of political survival as he plans to remain afloat after losing the governorship ticket in 2015 and has vowed not to allow any stone unturned in his quest to remain politically relevant. Former Minister of State for Niger Delta affairs, Dr. Sam Ode is also rumoured to be gearing up to take up this challenge as his early defection into the APC was seen by many a step to position himself early in the party for this move.

Ode, whose philanthropy is seen as a plus to his ambition may not have the financial war chest to match the other two contenders. Also suspected to be interested in Mark’s position is his former antagonist and flag bearer of the APC, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, who though put up a good show in his last attempt, may be unable to make such an impact again due to financial handicap.

At the moment, there have been series of defections from the opposition party to the ruling APC ahead 2019 general elections in the state, but New Telegraph observed that such defectors are only making political sojourn into APC to “chop” due to what they call “poverty and hunger in the land” and later go back to where they rightly belong.

The actions of such politicians, most of whom have dominated the government of Governor Samuel Ortom, clearly shows that all may not be well with the APC come 2019 due to its abysmal performance nearly two years on the saddle.

Against this backdrop, the biggest question on the lips of the people of the state as the intrigues and realignment of forces continue unabated is: Where will the pendulum swing to considering the style of leadership of the government of the day in Benue State?

New Telegraph.