WIKE CANNOT CHOOSE A GOVERNOR FOR US... Group
The Benue Alliance for Good Governance and Accountability (BAGA) has raised the alarm over an alleged political arrangement involving prominent political actors, insisting that the people of Benue must retain the exclusive right to determine who governs the state in 2027.
In a statement signed by its President, Chief John Terfa, BAGA alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had been engaged in discussions with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, over a proposed political alliance reportedly known as the “Rainbow Coalition.”
The group further alleged that Wike was seeking political influence over five states controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as part of an arrangement to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, with Benue allegedly among the states being considered.
BAGA also alleged that the reported arrangement was aimed at promoting the emergence of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, as a preferred governorship candidate in Benue.
The group, however, did not provide independent evidence to substantiate the alleged meetings, negotiations or political arrangement.
BAGA questioned what it described as attempts by political actors outside Benue to influence the choice of the state’s next governor, insisting that the decision must ultimately belong to the electorate.
“Benue is not a political commodity to be traded behind closed doors in Abuja. The people of the state must have the final say on who governs them and the direction their state takes,” the group said.
The organisation further alleged that Wike had held a series of meetings with Akume and Ortom in recent weeks to discuss the proposed arrangement.
According to BAGA, tensions allegedly arose during one of the meetings said to have taken place at Akume’s residence in Abuja, where Wike was purportedly unhappy with the growing political influence of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The group also alleged that Wike demanded that steps be taken to prevent Alia from being re-elected in 2027, regardless of the outcome of the election, and allegedly claimed to have influence over the judiciary.
BAGA did not provide independent evidence for these allegations.
Rejecting what it described as an attempt to determine Benue’s political leadership through negotiations among powerful individuals, the group said Governor Alia should be allowed to complete his constitutionally permitted tenure if returned to office by the electorate in 2027.
The group said it believed the Alia administration had made progress in governance and development, arguing that political alliances should not be used to undermine the democratic choice of voters.
BAGA also criticised the record of the Ortom administration and expressed concern over what it described as divisions within the state’s political space arising from the influence of powerful political interests both within and outside Benue.
The organisation maintained that any political coalition seeking to influence the 2027 election should be anchored on transparency, competence, accountability and the interests of the people, rather than personal ambitions or political bargaining.
It also challenged political actors seeking the support of President Tinubu to pursue their political ambitions without attaching conditions that could, in its view, compromise the democratic choices of Benue voters.
“Benue people are politically conscious. They will not surrender their future to a coalition of political interests formed without their consent,” the statement said.
BAGA consequently called on voters, civil society organisations and political stakeholders to remain vigilant and protect the state’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Whatever colour it is given, Rainbow, PDP or otherwise, the people will reject any arrangement that threatens their collective interests and development,” BAGA said.
The group added: “Benue is not Rivers, and we will not allow Wike from Rivers State to choose a governor for us in Benue State.”
According to BAGA, the central issue is whether political negotiations allegedly taking place in Abuja will respect the constitutional and democratic right of Benue voters to determine their own leadership.
The organisation maintained that the governorship of Benue should not be determined through private agreements among political power brokers, but through a democratic process in which the people have the final say.
