With the 2027 general elections fast approaching, the political atmosphere in Benue South Senatorial District is heating up.
The contest for the Senate seat is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched battles in Idoma politics, as opposition forces strategize to stop the incumbent, Senator Abba Moro, who is eyeing a third term.
Moro, the former Minister of Interior and current Senate Minority Leader, is widely believed to be positioning himself for a return to the Red Chamber for a third term.
If successful, it would mark a twelve-year legislative journey, extending a political legacy that itself followed the long shadow of his erstwhile godfather, Senator David Mark, who dominated the seat for twenty uninterrupted years before handing over to Moro in 2019.
In 2019, Moro emerged as Mark’s successor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, defeating former Benue State Deputy Governor Steve Lawani of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in a landslide victory that cut across all nine local government areas in Benue South.
The election confirmed Moro’s firm grip on the zone’s political structure and the Peoples Democratic Party machinery.
Moro’s re-election bid in 2023 proved far more demanding. For the first time since his emergence, the former minister was pushed to the edge by a growing opposition and shifting voter sentiments.
The final results reflected a more competitive race:
Abba Moro – PDP 76,459 votes
Daniel Onjeh – APC 59,938 votes
Joseph Ojobo – LP 40,194 votes
Though Moro won, the thin margin exposed cracks in what was once seen as an unassailable political fortress.
His victory paved the way for his emergence as Senate Minority Leader following a court ruling that removed Simon Mwadkwon from the senate.
Yet, like Oliver Twist asking for more, Moro is not done. He is eyeing another term in the red chamber.
However, as 2027 approaches, both the All Progressives Congress and the African Democratic Congress are believed to be exploring alliances and strategies aimed at halting Moro’s third-term ambition.
Political analysts say the opposition sees 2027 as the best opportunity yet to disrupt the PDP’s long-standing dominance in Zone C.
Beneath the surface, there is a growing chorus, especially among younger voters and other zones, calling for generational change, power rotation and fresh representation.
Already, about ten contenders are waiting in the wings for the Benue South senatorial seat.
Among them is Daniel Onjeh, a former NANS President and serial APC senatorial candidate.
Onjeh has contested the seat multiple times, earning name recognition and loyal supporters, particularly among youths.
However, internal party divisions and limited APC penetration in some rural areas remain major obstacles.
Also in the race is Francis Ottah Agbo, the immediate past House of Representatives member for Ado, Okpokwu, and Ogbadibo Federal Constituency.
Many believe Ottah is pursuing the seat in retaliation following Moro’s role in his ouster from the House in 2023.
A former Benue State Commissioner for Finance, David Olofu, is gunning for the seat on the platform of the David Mark-led African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Olofu is tipped as a potential senator due to his appeal among professionals and elites, though retail politics in the largely rural zone could test his reach. He is also reportedly enjoying support from some top former loyalists and allies of Abba Moro.
Nelson Alapa, a former Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, is also in the race on the APC platform. His success may depend on how well he reconnects with younger voters and adapts to modern campaign dynamics.
Less prominent nationally, Patrick Ojechema Idoko could emerge as a surprise factor depending on shifting alliances. In a fragmented race, underdogs often become kingmakers or spoilers. Former chairman of Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Samuel Onuh, is also eyeing the seat.
There have been calls in some quarters for the senate seat to be zoned to either the Apa/Agatu axis or Obi/Oju.
However, a media aide to Abba Moro, Peter Apeh Ejeh, told Daily Post that the Senate is not for inexperienced politicians.
He believes Moro has done well and deserves another term in the senate.
He said: “You see, the kind of development this senator has brought to the people is unprecedented in the history of the Idoma Nation. You can agree with me. Look at the University of Health Sciences, look at the Federal College of Agriculture, Opiallu. Look at the road networks, look at the overall impact. This senator has achieved so much.
“In the National Assembly, experience matters. The longer you stay, the greater your capacity to deliver for your constituency. You cannot just enter the Senate as an ordinary senator and wonder where to start or what to prioritize.
“This man has already made a mark. There is hardly any decision in the Senate leadership that can happen without his involvement or counsel.
“As Senate Minority Leader, he is exactly the person you want for strategic planning. In my view, there is no point bringing in a novice senator when the incumbent is neither tired nor unwilling to serve another term. The longer you stay in this position, the better you can deliver.
“Agitation during elections is normal, but Ejeh argued that the history of “representation should be considered. Since 1999, with Senator David Mark in the seat for twenty years, the zone has been well represented.
“Even today, in Otukpo, Ohimini, Apa, and Agatu, you cannot talk about federal representation without involving the Enochi people. According to Ejeh, there is nothing wrong in allowing a capable person from a different bloc or subzone to continue holding the position for another term.
“Whether the seat is zoned or not, the principle remains: experience and continuity in the National Assembly matter. The longer you serve, the more opportunities you create and the greater the benefits for your constituents.”
However, former chairman of Ogbadibo LGA and one of the aspirants, Samuel Onuh, believes that having spent eight years in power, Moro should step aside.
He noted that whatever he couldn’t have achieved in eight years, won’t be achieved in 12 years,
Onuh said, “I have no problem with Abba Moro. He has served eight years, and that is a significant period. My point is simple: in eight years, if there are things you could not achieve, what makes you think you can do them in twelve?
“The legislative house is straightforward. Four years is enough to accomplish meaningful work, and eight years is already a long time. If a senator cannot deliver tangible results within that period, extending it further does not guarantee better outcomes.
“For instance, a senator should be able to facilitate infrastructure, healthcare, and education projects. In other parts of the country, hospitals are being built, schools are being constructed, and businesses are supported. That is the kind of measurable impact constituents should see and expect.
“The question is not about personal ambition; it is about results. People will judge a legislator by what they deliver, by the improvements in their communities and the opportunities created for citizens.”
On his part, a former lawmaker and chieftain of the ADC, Dan Atayi, aligns his thoughts with Onuh, who believes that four years is enough to prove a point.
According to him, “One of the principles of democracy is power, who has it and how it is exercised. Inclusivity is key because marginalization is wrong. Even in countries like the United States, where the black population is only 12 percent, representation is achievable, as we have seen with the election of a black president.
“In addition to inclusivity, fairness and equity are essential. In Benue South, there are only four main constituencies, yet one group has held the Senate seat for far too long, five consecutive terms.
“It is not that previous senators did not try to serve, but the constituency has never fully benefited at the zonal or state level. Often, experienced politicians should be competing for higher offices after eight years rather than holding the same seat indefinitely.
“In the spirit of fairness and empathy, we are driving a change, not just a change in strategy, but in attitude. We believe in rotation, inclusivity, and merit.
“What we are seeking is someone competent, politically astute at both the grassroots and state levels, and committed to governance rather than ritual politics. Someone who understands service and can deliver results.
“That is the standard by which we are evaluating our candidate, Dr. David Olofu.”
For the first time since 2019, Moro will be going into the race without some of his top foot soldiers and allies.
DAILY POST observed that Moro has lost key supporters, political allies and loyalists to either the APC or ADC in 2025.
Among them are his former boss, David Mark, ex-campaign DG, Adakole Elijah, former PDP chairman, John Ngbede and ex-Oju/Obi representative, Samson Okwu.
Others who have left him include Anthony Agom, Okpokwu State Constituency lawmaker, Hon. Chris Adaba Aba (Mad Lion); Pro-tem State Woman Leader, Abeje Egwa; Prof. Salifu David; Engr. Solomon Eigege, and several other stakeholders.
These individuals were instrumental to Moro’s electoral victories in 2019 and 2023.
However, going into the race without their support will test Moro’s political strength in Benue South.
For his challengers, the coming months will test whether ambition can be translated into structure, grassroots appeal, and electoral strength.
In the end, the fate of Benue South’s Senate seat will be decided not by intrigue alone, but by the collective will of the electorate, who must choose whether to extend a familiar mandate or chart a new political course.
Benue South 2027: Plot to stop Abba Moro’s third term thickens
source https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/14/benue-south-2027-plot-to-stop-abba-moros-third-term-thickens/
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