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Benue Open Governance Society, Makurdi (2026)

10/05/2026

RE- POWER COHESION AND THE RACE FOR BLOC VOTES

The submission above despite its preference of Mike Aondokaa SAN on face value appears intellectually revealing, but it is dorminantly theoretical and overhypes the weirding influence of geopolitical blocs in appropriating voting behaviour in Benue politics.

Governorship contests, are rarely decided on indigeneity or sectional permutations alone, as voters are far more increasingly influenced or motivated by pedigree , performance, political organisation, party muscle, integrity, other unexplained sentiments, and above all contemporary livid socio-economic realities.

The poor assumption that Jechira votes will naturally split or fragment on account of multiplicity of candidates from the area sidelines the fact that party platforms, and incumbency factor practically, usually outweigh bloc sentiments or cravings. Recent Benue and other subnational events are there for free to pick from.

Governor Alia is not some casual, ordinary Jechira candidate, but a sitting governor with statewide carriage, visibility, and institutional advantage extending beyond his Jechira or Kunav catchment geopolitical roots. IS essay cut corners here. The biggest determinant is downplayed and blocked in preference for "bloc". Laughable.

A good number of voters across Tiv blocs and beyond will assess governance outcomes more come 2027. Infrastructure, salaries, political stability, educational progress, etc will be issues for consideation before IS overblown 'clan roots". Those woll form their conduct and approach on the balloting day. Alia will be rejected or reelected based on conviction of service delivery or potential for same and not some "bloc model".

The arguement that the PDP’s "sanctuary consensus" entails stability and will automatically translates into bloc cohesion is a jaundiced speculation or dreaming tale evolving and playing mind games. Political conspiracies or agreements among elites do not automatically command grassroots buy-in or blind loyalty. History has testified that the voters or the electorates can reject or frustrate manipulative one man squad crafted zoning arrangements when they sense disconnects with popular drive. It is reported even that one of the PDP aspirants disowned the scam and has gubernatorial expression in the SDP.

Religion, youth influence (largely GenZs), metropolitan voting dynamics, political agility, and even party loyalty shape electoral outcomes more remarkably than the narrowly prismed "bloc theory or allusion" being peddled or made to matter to suit Mike Aondoakaa SAN of IS political bloc.

Governorship elections are won through multilayered interplay of statewide acceptability, far reaching grassroots mobilization, and civic confidence, and not simplistically through theoretical postulations of clan or geopolitical solidarity or affinity.

Samuel Agwa, Convener, Benue Open Governance Society (BOGS)
[email protected]

11th May 2026

07/05/2026

ALIA & SEEMING "PREFERENCE" FOR DIRECT OPEN PRIMARIES: An Inquest.

It looks 'curiously-strange' why Governor Alia is handed a consensus ticket as sole aspirant and he seems not quite publicly 'excited' and is not rolling out the drums and dancing Swange. He philosophically appears more persuaded that every aspirant including himself should suck his mothers breast! Let every aspirant engage directly in the open field and not from the cosy Benue banquet hall.

Naturally and conventionally at the levels of Governor and President, declarations of consensus for incumbents appears more of a "right". Of course even at that, there could be contests if others feel like doing so or if the incumbent despite being annointed decides to insist on a further grassroot annointing. Governors and Presidents of ruling parties are usually offered that generousity within their parties internal democratic plotting. It is not quite a misnomer. No. It is a misnormer or oddity, and curiously "disturbing" when over 10 members of the National Assembly are extended the same generousity from the party as relayed by the SGF, George Akume on 3rd May 2026 at a well attended elite townhall in Makurdi .

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) and the national APC reportedly prefers direct primaries especially if consensus is objected to or disputed by contending aspirants. FACT.

What is Alia afraid of that he himself seems to prefer direct primaries even for his own election. Already, Governor Alia has partymen contending with him. Of note are Drs Byuan and Kuraun who have "proudly" submitted their nomination forms and showcased in the Media. Maybe we should assume that since PBAT is leader of APC his words should be exactly implemented without some moderation, and or maybe he will understand the Benue APC peculiarities. Benue elite APC has been in a near 3 year old cold and hot animosity. Suddenly, reconciliation has commenced and the core term of reference is a generous donation of tickets to National Assembly members! Coulf it be a good moment to take side or be generous to anyone, even to Governor Alia? The timing for this if not well managed could give impressions that may scuttle whatever "good intentions" from PBAT.

Governor Alia appears to favor open direct primaries in our thinking because they offer a more transparent and participatory process with potential of reducing grudges that go with imposition and elite manipulation or a supposed presidential fiat or directive. We are also thinking, likely, Governor Alia being a grassroots man believes, as it is widely believed too in the villages of Benue that the National Assembly members collectively have failed the masses (there are few outstanding ones) and must subject themselves to fresh validation by partymen.

The Presidency as impressioned through SGF Akume we believe sees differently. It sees Benue representatives it has enjoyed "good working" relationship with or maybe as recommended by SGF Akume, and may not have factored local sentiments and sensibilities which Alia fears may not usher good electoral outings in 2027. Even if it will may leave cancerous wounds.

We think PBAT does not know APC has two football clubs in Benue: Ubokoti and Pelengi. Maybe he needs to quickly do some "referendum" to what exactly partymen and women wish for in Benue.

We assume Governor Alia justifiably believe direct primaries may serve strategies like allowing ordinary party members across the wards to franchise candidates rather than a blanket declaration of candidates list. It will be recalled that, Governor Alia came into power via the direct primaries.This is not lost on him as he is a living testimony of the power of the people in exercising their discretion.

Again, for himself (Alia) and others it will be more convincing to revalidate their 2027 comeback through the same process considering real reconciliation should involve fans and coaches and players across the two canopies of APC in Benue.

We are equally curious and believe that given Alia’s populist, grassroot appeal, a direct primary system potentially strengthens his political advantage because it expands his political footage and even that of the SGF Akume in blending distant, yet close tales of their affections. APC cannot "risk" disenfrachising or sacrificing ambition on the altar of executive fiat.

Alia’s preference for open primaries could be to stabilise the polity. In a politically divided Benue where reconciliation efforts are ongoing, adopting consensus arrangements or automatic tickets may unduly shortchanged some aspirants on account of ambition, zoning and even merited capacity. Let every man test his strength. It is too late to halt genuine ambition.

Offering free tickets is "highhandedness out of convenience or unbalanced analysis" of local Benue dynamics. Many will be excluded, hence reconciliation good intentions may only be for the optics that will only appeal to a microcosm. It shouldn't be too much a "concession" for APC or PBAT to allow willing party members test themselves with the incumbents than be shut down. It will give impression of unfair umpiring, despite genuinely good intentions on a personal level of PBAT.

As reconciliation continues in Benue APC we assumptiously believe that for Alia he sees open primaries help faster and meaningful peacebuilding. No one will cry foul if defeated openly in the field of contest involving his party men and women. This is an intra-party matter. It will build confidence better.

Party unity can be best preserved and durable not by negotiated settlement , but very open party primaries where there shall be no victor, no vanquished.

Governor Alia we have demonstrably noticed has embarked on governance reforms and has taken responsibility as leader of the party in Benue State. His believe that direct primaries will entrench better internal democracy is both a fact and the prevailing sentiments in Benue APC and generally.

Genuinely sustainable political reconciliation in Benue APC we believe will best be entrenched by supporting a process where party faithfuls openly choose candidates. This even fits better with public expectations of accountability, internal democracy and good impressioning on the 2027 general voters who may not be of APC stock but could see wisdom and tack in direct primaries.

Governor Alia, SGF Akume and PBAT must come to terms that there is a "contradiction" between reconciliation-driven automatic endorsements, and the preference for direct primaries. The most appealing approach to cure the contradictions or tensions is to democratically allow every man or woman to answer his father's name with his party constituents at all levels.

No aspirant should be afraid to do so. It should even excite aspirants to enjoy the goodwill of the prople they represent openly. And for PBAT and the SGF Akume it will still be a win-win for APC. No boundaries, no limits.

While auto- ticketing may reward loyalty and reduce internal beefs among incumbents, direct primaries will FULLY preserve the spirit of democratic contest and RECONCILIATION. The grassroot will own their APC and express themselves accordingly.

It must be known that the Benue PDP cognisant of its issues opted for consensus because it is not a ruling party. That is strategy that APC needs to discern and match accordingly via a higher strategic pursuit. As a ruling party APC’S actions must safeguard its electoral comparative strengths and cure wrong perceptions.

We see Alia’s body language and expression for open primaries not necessarily as rejection of reconciliation but more a profoundly, peculiar Benue political barometricing seeing the expectations of party faithfuls. Again, we think ultimately it is or should be about long-term party cohesion that see legitimacy flowing from the thumbs of party members.

PBAT must realise that consensus that negotiates political arrangements in an atmosphere of reconciliation should be by partymen (especially in Benue circumstances) expression than veiled wisdom at a banquet townhall in Makurdi.

Governor Alia must also realise that persuasively he needs PBAT to understand that reconciliation should begin at the open fields that in hallowed banquet halls. The consequences of negotiated consensus a reconciliation regime is too frightening to contemplate casually as if one is merely buying groundnut by the roadside.

Samuel Agwa, Convener, Benue Open Governance Society (BOGS)
[email protected]

7th May 2026

23/04/2026

"ZONING CONSENSUSING": NOT THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC OPTION.

Zoning- consensus is purposed to create stability for greater political inclusion. However, when zoning consensus-ing protocols or townhall can not hold, or gets contentious, political parties must introspect and not make it a do-or-die affair.

Political parties should rather on failure of "zoning-consensus-ing" get even more excitedly transparent by encouraging competitive party primaries so aspirants or candidates can be selected more democratically.

A faltered or faltering zoning consensus, is as an opportunity to strengthen party internal democracy. Incidently, reducing over-reliance on zoning consensus can help stem potential factionalistion, which often arises when groups or districts or clans feel 'unduely' excluded.

A well-conducted primary election process will encourage participation, and 'guidedly' prepare parties for stronger general election performance that involves the generality of voters. Where and when zoning deals cannot be procured easily, political parties MUST immediately consider and embark on open primaries as contained in the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

Any insistence or insisting to keep a zoning consensus formulae not acceptable to contenders actually creates impressions of coercion, anarchy, and 'conscription'. Ultimately, this will not easily fade away in the minds of party members and the general voter.

Once again ZONING-CONSENSUS IS NOT THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC OPTION TO SELECT ASPIRANTS OR CANDIDATES. It is one out of many.

Samuel Agwa, Convener. Benue Open Governance Society (BOGS)
[email protected]

23rd April 2026

22/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AtBDmsdtx/?mibextid=wwXIfr

20/04/2026

ZONING IS NOT SOLE CRITERIA FOR SEEKING ELECTIVE OFFICE

Zoning has always played some role in plotting political participation in Benue State, especially among the Tiv people, where inclusion is deeply valued. Zoning is a tool just like merit, ambition, consensus, conviction, voice of majority, etc. A people or society that straitjackets on zoning alone risks other necessary factors or tools for guaranteed political participation and leadership.

As 2027 general election miles closer, voices for "zoning or never" need to realise that over-elevating zoning as the sole determinant of who should aspire or contest elections stands the very logic democratic participation and choice on the head. Leadership pursuit is beyond biology and geography alone. Where then will be the place of ambition, competence, integrity, and the drive in people to aspire to lead?! Zoning kills it all because IT MUST BE ZONING or NEVER?!

Benue and indeed Tiv need to gaze well beyond rigidly held rotational 'absolutes'. Benue must interrogate, discern and focus MORE on the depth of aspirants or people expressing desire for electoral contest, considering Benue needs her best within Benue and in Abuja.

Zoning could be one door opener, but a rigid insistence, and rubbishing opportunity for people to freely contest de-enriches participatory democracy and quality representation. It is time to strike a balance, and understand that while inclusion via zoning is one out of many options, it shouldn't be sacramentised or over-peddled as the sole factor for emergence of candidates. Aspirants regardless of their biological origin within their catchment electoral districts should not be disenfranchised as they seek via open contest to earn their nominations or otherwise.

Samuel Agwa, Convener, Benue Open Governance Society (BOGS)
[email protected]

20th April 2026

16/04/2026

BENUE INSECURITY: 100% Blame on the State Government Requires Mindfulness of Judgment.

There have been sustained attacks on Benue communities, especially in the past fifteen years. Benue state government has always been singled for blame, which is quite understandable considering the contract of constitutional responsibility.

Recent onslaught in Apa and Otukpo communities and other areas have called for far-reaching introspecting and circumspecting. This is in addition to rising spate of kidnapping and other local sophisticated criminalities.

We are once again in yet another revolving season of outraging- grief. Meanwhile, BOGS hereby conveys her deepest condolence to all victims of mindless killings and criminality in Benue state.

Who then is to be solely blamed when a community is attacked and killings and other acts of inhumanity happen? Without any ambiguity, the state is or should be squarely blamed naturally. But deeply in the realms of realism, this conclusion is obstructive and indeed 'faulty'. In spite of the pains, cries, and tears it would be philosophically porous to assert that 'ordinary' citizens can never be part of heinous criminality, killings and abductions in the communities.

Nowhere in our insecured Nigeria security setting does violence or killings survive or fester only on weapons of the attacker. Silence, fear, complicity, and sometimes ulterior opportunism can actually, equally become 'weapons' just like the AK 47s. Soft weapons for the foe to explore.

While a number of times communities have complained of relaying intel that gets ignored or compromised by state security agencies, it would also not be totally false to equally imply that information leakages, hosting of strange elements, deliberate unmindfulness of suspicious movements (within and without) can create channels for crime and bloodbath. Known and unknown things that happen in our communities.

While it is a fact that state governments equally have operational and constitutional limits within the broader Nigeria, communities or citizens can not at all times be assumed as totally too 'vulnerable ' or very 'innocent' entities or victims. We leave it here because it is not actually too okay to stretch this argument further, knowing its rational intentions could be seen in bad light.

While it is true that the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property, we must not be economical with the truth. Contextually, the buck on security management stops at the doorstep of the Federal Government.
Without mincing words, the Federal government controls all armed security agency operations. Therefore, it is unrealistic to expect local and state governments to shoulder 100% blame as the political elite in Benue is promoting. If the Federal Government is not up to the task, then it is unfortunate and the blame ultimately rests with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (or at best shared with governors), and this should be make clear than an over-killing of State governors for 2027 political capital. The constitutional responsibilities and limitations of the different tiers of government exists and needs to be properly situated.

Citizens or communities on the other hand typically are not constitutionally muscled with the legal authority or coercive power to crush organized terrorism. Often, except they take extra measures via organised local security operations, they remain totally prone to all manner of invasions and attacks without 'resistance'. Therefore, attempting to shift responsibility 100% onto the people risks blaming victims for their own vulnerability and absolving the state government or security apparatuses.

There are two extremes: total state blame and total societal (community) guilt or 'complicity or surrender'. There is no sound judgment to agree or disagree with both. Security at best is a shared architecture. The state provides laws and coordinates enforcement, while the citizens provide vigilance, information and cooperation with the state.

As we mourn and daily witness attacks, abductions, and bloodbath, our grief should not be to over politicize and over ridicule the state government or security agencies absolutely. While the state must be held to account, community constituents also need to reflect on their role (seen and unseen) within the security ecosystem. Security is co-produced. Security is co-owned, and its lapses shouldn't be over faulted and politicised entirely on the state. As the state is chastised and reprimanded, citizens also need to do soul searching, reminiscing. Such introspection could actually enrich the fight against insecurity and terrorism in Benue State. Fundamentally, security remains "of the people, for the people, and by the people".

Samuel Agwa, Convener, Benue Open Governance Society (BOGS)
[email protected]

16th April 2026

14/04/2026

TINUBU’S "ONE THOUSAND" SUPPORT GROUPS

Preceding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s (PBAT) becoming president of Nigeria in 2023, the political space was bustling with support groups under various cliches and labels. We thought even then the numbers were quite high only today to wake up to a quadrupling, alarming proliferation of support groups ruggedly poised to see PBAT return in the 2027 elections for a second term. Most of the groups are actually becoming ‘counter groups’ fighting to outsmart their sister groups and making the key agenda for PBAT only on the sidelines.

The swelling numbers of groups and affiliates poses or presents a complex political phenomenon that defies a single-track interpretation. It represents a demonstration of enduring political strength on one hand, and otherwise on the other. Generally, in political landscaping, the ability to garner high numbers of organized groups suggests that Tinubu holds significant influence across party realms, interests and networks, visibly amplifying his Renewed Hope Agenda.

However, beneath this. is an underlining maneuvering of transactional multi-layered dimension. From observation and scrutiny, some support groups operate without ideological grip but more as "land prospectors", more as vehicles for political and economic positioning. Forming or joining support can be good strategy for survival and future investment. In an economy stifling with inflation, unemployment, and a weak Naira this is quite understandable. The pro-Tinubu chants may not exactly be out of ‘being possessed by the spirit of Tinubu’ necessarily.

Despite aforesaid, it would be too casual to dismiss all such groups as opportunistic and unprincipled. It will be wrong. A good number represent genuinely known and profiled constituencies that passionately believe in Tinubu continuity as a surer pathway to a stabilized Nigeria from 2027. Critically, the “one thousand support groups” reflect an intermingling in appropriate doses of loyalty, survival promptings, and political forecasting.

Meanwhile, the true significance of support groups shouldn’t be in the traffic, but in their deep believe in the Renewed Hope Creed and impact. So much of billboards and vehicle brandings without communicating milestones of PBAT may only be cheap paparazzi. Our grassroots need more Renewed Hope clamors and visibilities than the capital cities of Nigeria.

Support groups need to take PBAT to Nigerian villages, markets and not merely in the cities. Else, it will be easier to conclude all the paparazzi is simply performance politics on the prowl. Performance politics means actions, or events designed more to create an impression than to produce realistic or measurable outcomes, or communicate real progress. It is politics as theatre.

Samuel Agwa, Convener, Benue Open Governance Society (BOGS)
[email protected]

14th April 2026

02/04/2026

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=122115262503224370&id=61586731102519&mibextid=Nif5oz

BOGS aligns with this insight...

Benue Open Governance Society

10/05/2026

07/05/2026

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20/04/2026

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02/04/2026

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