Nigerian Concord Newspaper
As the 2027 governorship election gradually approaches in Benue State, one fundamental question which continues to arise is what exactly is the campaign strategy of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia?
Politics evolves quickly. Elections are ultimately about choices before the people, not endless battles with the past. Yet, three years into his administration, a significant part of Governor Alia’s political communication still appears heavily tied to former Governor Samuel Ortom.
Ortom governed Benue State from 2015 to 2023. In 2015, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he defeated Terhemen Tarzoor of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP . Ahead of the 2019 election, Ortom defected to the PDP and still secured victory against Barrister Emmanuel Jime of the APC. His political journey, achievements, controversies and shortcomings are already part of Benue’s political history.
In the 2023 governorship election, the PDP candidate was Titus Uba, yet much of the Alia campaign machinery concentrated not on Uba, but on Ortom. At the time, such a strategy could perhaps be understood politically. Ortom was the outgoing governor, and the APC needed a dominant political symbol to confront. Campaigns often use the shadow of a previous administration to mobilize voters.
However, governance changes the dynamics entirely. Governor Alia is no longer an opposition candidate seeking power. He has now governed Benue State for three years. At this stage, the electorate expects a transition from blame politics to performance politics. The central question before the people is no longer what Ortom failed to do, but what Alia himself has done differently, what he has achieved and what future he intends to offer Benue people beyond political rhetoric.
The danger for any incumbent is becoming trapped in a perpetual campaign against a predecessor instead of building a compelling case for continuity. Benue voters are politically experienced and increasingly sophisticated. They understand that every administration inherits challenges, but they also understand that leadership must eventually take ownership of both successes and failures.
As 2027 approaches, Governor Alia has two realistic options. First, he can campaign squarely on the strength of his administration’s record in infrastructure, security, salaries and pensions, education, healthcare, rural development, agricultural policy and economic direction. That is the traditional advantage of incumbency. A governor seeking re-election should naturally want the election to become a referendum on his stewardship.
Second, he can continue to frame the political debate around Ortom and the past administration. But that strategy carries diminishing political returns because Ortom himself is not on the ballot.
The emerging contest is increasingly becoming about Governor Alia versus the PDP’s candidate, Chief Michael Aondoakaa. Aondoakaa has already begun articulating his own ideas, criticisms and policy alternatives. Naturally, the political conversation should now shift toward competing visions for Benue’s future rather than endless references to yesterday’s battles.
Democracy functions best when elections are centered on ideas, records, competence and future direction. The people deserve a debate about governance, not merely a recycling of old political rivalries. 2027 will not be a referendum on Samuel Ortom.It will be a referendum on Governor Hyacinth Alia.