By Dahiru Ali
The politics of inclusion in Benue State is once again coming into focus as the state approaches another governorship election in 2027. At the heart of the emerging conversation is an enduring question about the relationship between the state’s major ethnic communities and the extent to which political power, public appointments and development opportunities reflect the principle of shared ownership of the Benue project.
For the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, the answer lies partly in revisiting the political philosophy and historical relationships associated with former Governor Aper Aku, whose administration he believes did considerably more to foster unity between the Tiv and Idoma communities.
In an engagement with Idoma interlocutors, Aondoakaa drew on his family’s personal history with the former governor, recalling that Aper Aku was his uncle and that his father served as a district head during the period of Aku’s administration. He presented this connection as more than a family association, describing it as part of the political and social history that shaped relationships between the two communities.
His argument was that the relative harmony and sense of accommodation associated with that period should provide a reference point for contemporary governance in Benue.
“If elected, I shall endeavour to better his records by doing the most to unite our peoples and engender the development of the state,” he said.
The significance of this reference goes beyond electoral rhetoric. It raises an important question about whether the political relationships that helped hold Benue together in its formative years can be renewed in a contemporary environment characterised by competing political interests, ethnic sensitivities and perceptions of unequal access to state power.
Aper Aku, who governed Benue between 1979 and 1983, remains an important figure in the state’s political history. His administration is associated with efforts to establish institutions, stimulate agricultural and industrial development and lay foundations for a modern state administration. More importantly for the argument Aondoakaa is making, his tenure is remembered in some political circles for a style of accommodation that recognised the importance of building relationships across the state’s constituent communities. It is this dimension of Aku’s legacy that Aondoakaa appears keen to appropriate as a framework for his own political proposition.
However, historical goodwill alone cannot resolve contemporary questions of representation. The political structure of Benue has evolved considerably since the early 1980s, and the expectations of its communities have changed. The challenge before any aspiring governor is therefore not simply to invoke the memory of an earlier administration but to demonstrate how its more enduring principles can be translated into measurable institutional and developmental outcomes.
The Idoma question: Representation, equity and belonging
Aondoakaa’s appeal becomes more consequential when considered against longstanding concerns among sections of the Idoma political establishment about their place in the governance structure of Benue State. The candidate acknowledged the feeling of marginalisation among the Idoma, particularly during the last two administrations. He recalled that under Aper Aku, an Idoma son occupied the influential office of Secretary to the State Government (SSG), suggesting that the political accommodation evident at the time offered a useful contrast to contemporary concerns.
He expressed the view that the distribution of strategic political positions had become increasingly imbalanced, with the Idoma community feeling excluded from important aspects of state governance. These concerns have featured repeatedly in public discussions. In 2024, the Idoma Proactive Diaspora Coalition accused Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration of marginalising the community in appointments to strategic government institutions. The coalition’s position reflected a wider debate among Idoma stakeholders about political representation, access to government and the extent to which the community’s interests are reflected in executive decision-making.
Such allegations should not be treated as a substitute for a comprehensive assessment of the administration’s record. Nevertheless, their persistence points to a political perception that cannot simply be dismissed, particularly in a state where ethnic and geographical considerations have historically influenced conversations about power-sharing.
The distinction between numerical political strength and equitable governance is important here. A community’s place in a democratic system should not be determined solely by its population or electoral influence. The legitimacy of government also rests on its ability to recognise the interests of constituent communities, protect their sense of belonging and ensure that public institutions operate without discrimination.
This is particularly relevant to the Idoma, whose political identity and historical contribution to Benue have often featured prominently in debates about the state’s leadership structure.
Alia’s record and the politics of comparison
The comparison with the incumbent, Governor Hyacinth Alia, is inevitable, although it requires a careful distinction between political allegations and verifiable performance.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Alia’s administration has pursued a number of infrastructure and development programmes across the state. Supporters of the government have pointed to road construction, water projects, vocational training and other interventions in parts of Benue South as evidence that the zone has not been excluded from government attention.
There have also been public disagreements over the distribution of appointments and access to strategic positions. The 2024 concerns raised by the Idoma Proactive Diaspora Coalition illustrate the depth of the dissatisfaction among sections of the community.
The relevant question, therefore, is not whether the incumbent has undertaken projects in Idoma-speaking areas, but whether the overall pattern of governance demonstrates equitable treatment in appointments, resource allocation, institutional representation and development priorities.
A road project or a water scheme, however valuable, does not by itself settle questions about political inclusion. Equally, the ethnic identity of officeholders cannot be the sole measure of fairness. A credible assessment must consider the geographical spread of public investments, the distribution of strategic appointments, the quality of public services and the extent to which different communities participate in decisions affecting them.
This is where Aondoakaa’s argument presents both an opportunity and a test. By acknowledging the concerns of the Idoma people, he has recognised an issue that requires serious political attention. But the responsibility of an alternative administration would be to move beyond acknowledgement and establish transparent mechanisms through which inclusion becomes a consistent feature of governance rather than a discretionary favour.
For the incumbent, the same standard applies. The administration’s development record should be evaluated alongside its performance in promoting political accommodation and ensuring that all parts of the state feel represented.
Beyond campaign calculations: The importance of established relationships
Another dimension of Aondoakaa’s engagement with the Idoma community is the history of his relationships with numerous Idoma sons across professional, social and political circles.
These relationships provide a context for understanding his appeal beyond the immediate calculations of the 2027 election. They suggest that his engagement with sections of the Idoma establishment is not entirely a product of the present political contest, but also reflects longstanding personal and social connections.
In a political environment where appeals to ethnic constituencies are frequently interpreted as electoral transactions, the distinction is worth noting. Personal relationships can provide a foundation for political understanding, but their value ultimately depends on whether they translate into a broader commitment to public interest and institutional fairness.
Aondoakaa reinforced this message with an assurance that an administration under his leadership would remain responsive to the needs of the Idoma people.
“I shall also not turn my back on your people at every time of need, but ensure that the state shall be there for Idoma,” he pledged.
The statement addresses an important aspect of the relationship between government and citizens: the expectation that access to public institutions should not depend on political affiliation, ethnic identity or proximity to those in power.
For the Idoma community, the assurance raises expectations that a future administration would be more attentive to its developmental concerns, particularly in areas such as rural infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, employment and security.
Yet, the more sustainable approach would be to institutionalise these commitments. A governor cannot personally guarantee every community’s access to government. What is required is a system in which public appointments, project selection, resource allocation and service delivery are governed by transparent criteria and a demonstrable commitment to fairness.
The running mate and the question of political representation
Aondoakaa’s choice of 38-year-old security expert with double doctorate degrees in security studies, Dr. Oyije Ochaekiti Ogbenjuwa, as his running mate has also attracted attention in the context of the emerging political conversation. The decision introduces an element of generational representation into the PDP’s proposed ticket. While the choice of a relatively young running mate may carry political symbolism, its broader significance will depend on the policy direction and governing philosophy the ticket eventually presents. What is most spectacular about the choice is the pledge by Mr. Aodoakaa not to make his deputy a “mere spare tyre,” as Deputy Governors are often referred to in the current dispensation, but to assign a critical role to the office, in this instance, the Security portfolio, in order to leverage on the individual’s competence.
The 2027 election should provide an opportunity for candidates to articulate how they intend to address the structural issues confronting Benue, rather than allow the contest to be reduced to ethnic arithmetic or competing claims of political entitlement.
For the Idoma people, the critical issues are likely to include fair access to strategic appointments, equitable distribution of development projects, improved security, stronger educational and healthcare infrastructure and meaningful participation in the state’s economic and political decision-making.
These are not unreasonable demands, nor should they be interpreted as claims to preferential treatment. They are part of the broader democratic expectation that every community should enjoy equal citizenship and a fair opportunity to contribute to and benefit from government.
From historical goodwill to a new social compact
Ultimately, the question raised by Aondoakaa’s appeal is larger than his personal relationship with the Idoma community or the electoral calculations of the PDP. It concerns the nature of political accommodation in a multi-ethnic state and the responsibility of leadership to prevent differences in population, political influence or party affiliation from becoming instruments of exclusion.
The Tiv, Idoma and Igede communities have distinct histories and political interests, but their collective future is tied to the stability and development of Benue. No sustainable political arrangement can be built on the assumption that one community should exercise a permanent advantage while others remain peripheral to the decision-making process.
Aper Aku’s legacy, as invoked by Aondoakaa, offers a useful historical entry point into this debate. But the contemporary challenge is to move beyond nostalgia and translate the principle of inter-community accommodation into a modern framework of equitable governance.
Such a framework would require fairness in appointments, balanced development planning, inclusive institutions, responsive public services and regular engagement with communities across the state. It would also require political leaders to recognise that unity is not achieved by rhetoric alone, but through policies and decisions that give citizens a tangible sense of belonging.
Aondoakaa has placed his proposition on record: that he hopes to build on Aper Aku’s legacy, strengthen relationships between Benue’s communities and ensure that the Idoma people are not abandoned in the affairs of the state.
The Alia administration, meanwhile, must contend with the concerns about inclusion that have continued to feature in the public debate, alongside its claims of development interventions across the state.
As the 2027 contest takes shape, the electorate will have to look beyond historical associations, personal assurances and campaign promises to examine the substance of competing governance propositions.
For Benue, the enduring test of leadership is not simply who occupies the Government House, but whether the state can be governed in a manner that makes every constituent community an equal stakeholder in its future.
