Ahead of the 2027 general election, the political arena in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria is witnessing early heat.
Political tensions are rising with the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC trading words over political violence and campaign ethics.
The row follows a recent appeal by Governor Hyacinth Alia calling for peace and issue-based campaigns, which the PDP insists must extend beyond speeches to concrete actions.
The latest friction stems from remarks credited to Governor Alia at a gathering in Buruku Local Government Area, where he cautioned against political violence and advocated for campaign decorum.
In a swift reaction, the opposition PDP released a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo.
While endorsing the call for issue-based contest, the PDP urged the Governor to match his words with practical leadership, warning against preaching peace while turning a blind eye to alleged excesses by government loyalists.
The PDP called on the Governor to publicly discipline any of his aides involved in political thuggery, guarantee the neutrality of security agencies, and allow opposition parties unhindered access to public spaces across the state.
However, the ruling APC strongly pushed back against the PDP’s assertions maintaining that securing peace is a collective responsibility, not a job for the Governor alone.
In a counter-statement issued by APC State Publicity Secretary, Benedict Yawe, the party accused the PDP of attempting to politicise a noble call for peace with unproven allegations.
The APC challenged the opposition to submit concrete evidence of intimidation or billboard destruction to law enforcement agencies rather than making media statement allegations.
The ruling party reiterated that security institutions remain duty-bound to protect all citizens equally, adding that Governor Alia’s administration remains open to scrutiny based strictly on its record of performance.
With both parties reaffirming their formal commitment to peaceful, issue-based campaigns, political observers in Benue State will be watching closely to see how these promises play out on the field as the 2027 electoral cycle approaches.
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Editor: Terverr Tyav
