2027: Benue NDC Supporters Back Abba Moro, Tinubu
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, fresh political realignment is taking shape in Benue South as members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Integrity Group have opted to support candidates outside their party, throwing their weight behind Senator Abba Moro and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The development introduces a new dimension to the political contest in Benue State, with the group maintaining that it has not abandoned the NDC despite its decision to support Moro, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Benue South.
Members of the group announced their position during a courtesy visit to Moro, who is also the Senate Minority Leader.
Led by Hon. Yakubu Audu Romeo, the group said its decision was based on its assessment of representation and the interests of the people of Benue South rather than strict party affiliation.
Romeo, who had contested for an NDC House of Representatives ticket during the party’s primary, said members remained committed to the NDC but had resolved to support Moro’s return to the Senate.
According to him, the group believes political choices should go beyond party platforms when questions of experience and representation are involved.
The position places the NDC Integrity Group on a different political path from the party’s candidates in the forthcoming elections.
Daniel Onjeh is contesting for the Benue South senatorial seat on the NDC platform, while Peter Obi is the party’s presidential candidate.
However, the Integrity Group has chosen Moro for the Senate while also declaring support for Tinubu at the presidential level.
The group’s State Coordinator, Emmanuel Orih, said its decision was driven by its assessment of individual candidates, their character and what they could offer the people.
The group also identified with an emerging political alliance involving influential political figures in Benue, suggesting that the 2027 contest in the state could increasingly witness cooperation across traditional party boundaries.
Responding to the endorsement, Moro acknowledged the group’s support for Tinubu and pointed to ongoing federal projects affecting his constituency.
He cited the Abuja-Keffi-Makurdi road project as one of the developments he believes should be considered in assessing the Federal Government’s impact on the area.
Moro also suggested that politicians belonging to different parties could find common ground around shared political objectives as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
The development comes amid competing political alignments in Benue.
While the NDC Integrity Group is backing Moro and Tinubu, a group of APC stakeholders in the state recently declared support for both Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia, while warning party members against anti-party activities.
The NDC Integrity Group, however, criticised the Alia administration, alleging that Benue South, otherwise known as Zone C, had not received adequate attention from the state government.
Romeo claimed that communities in the senatorial district had not benefited sufficiently from government projects.
Moro also criticised the state government’s handling of issues affecting Benue South, including insecurity, while stressing that his disagreement was with the administration rather than any ethnic group.
The governor and his supporters have previously rejected allegations of neglect, pointing to projects and security interventions undertaken by the administration.
With political campaigns gathering momentum, the decision of NDC members to retain their party membership while supporting candidates from rival parties highlights the increasingly fluid alliances emerging ahead of the 2027 elections.
The development could also make Benue South one of the constituencies to watch as candidates and political groups intensify efforts to mobilise voters across party lines.
