As Benue State prepares to mark 50 years of its creation in February 2026, the Idoma people of Benue South Senatorial District are reflecting on their longstanding exclusion from the state’s highest office. Despite being the second-largest ethnic group in the state, no Idoma person has ever been elected governor of Benue State since its inception in 1976.
The Tiv-speaking areas have dominated political power, with all past governors hailing from Zones A and B. This has led to deep-seated feelings of marginalization and injustice among the Idoma people. With the 2027 governorship election approaching, the agitation for an Idoma governor has gained renewed urgency, forcing stakeholders to confront the question of whether it is time for an Idoma person to become the state’s number one citizen.
Retired military officer and elder statesman Gen. Geoffrey Ejiga has emphasized the need for Benue to try an Idoma governor, citing the state’s underdevelopment and the Tiv governors’ failure to improve its fortunes. Even some Tiv leaders, like the late Wantaregh Paul Unongo, have acknowledged the need for an Idoma governor to foster unity among the state’s senatorial districts.
However, internal disunity and lack of numerical strength have hindered the Idoma people’s chances of producing a governor. The Tiv ethnic group accounts for the majority of the state’s population and controls 14 local government areas, while the Idoma people are concentrated in nine local government areas in Zone C. This demographic reality has often been used to argue against zoning and power rotation.
Despite these challenges, some Idoma politicians have attempted to break the governorship ceiling. Notable aspirants like Chief Mike Onoja, Steve Lawani, and Jerry Agada have shown interest in the past, but none have secured the ticket of a major party. In 2023, Benson Abounu, an Idoma and sitting deputy governor at the time, contested but failed to clinch the party ticket.
The current administration has been criticized for its perceived lopsided governance patterns, with complaints of exclusion and imbalance in political appointments and employment growing louder across Zone C. The Idoma people’s sense of marginalization has deepened, with many stakeholders arguing that their grievances have been ignored.
As the 2027 election approaches, a new crop of Idoma figures is emerging, offering hope and a test of unity. About five persons from Benue South have indicated interest in the number one seat, including Madaki Ameh, Tony Obekpa, and Andrew Abah. For an Idoma governor to emerge in 2027, several factors must align, including unity among Idoma elites, securing the ticket of a major party, and strategic alliances across Tiv areas.
The Idoma quest for the governorship has become a question of belonging, equity, and trust in the Benue project. As Benue marks 50 years of existence, the agitation for an Idoma governor is growing louder, and it remains to be seen whether 2027 will finally end the long wait.
