…vows to take over state

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Benue State has inaugurated a strategic committee tasked with identifying and recommending a suitable running mate for its governorship candidate, Mr. Herman Hembe, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The committee, inaugurated in Makurdi, is expected to submit its report on or before June 20, 2026.

In a letter announcing the constitution of the committee, Hembe said the decision was reached in consultation with the national and state leadership of the party.

“In consultation with the National and State leadership of the ADC, we wish to announce the constitution of a strategic committee to identify and suggest a suitable candidate for running mate to the ADC gubernatorial ticket,” Hembe stated.

He named the members of the committee as Mr. Okpe Onah (Chairman), Senator Orker Jev, Air Vice Marshal Steve Onuh (rtd), Mrs. Rose Ameh, Mr. Ogah Okwu, Prof. David Salifu, Jack Mulya, Mrs. Abeje Egwa and Alex Igwe.

Inaugurating the committee on behalf of the state chairman of the party, Mr. Samson Okwu, the ADC State Secretary, Mr. Peter Chirzenden, charged the committee to conduct a transparent and consultative process capable of producing a credible and widely acceptable deputy governorship candidate.

According to him, the ADC remains committed to deepening democracy and ensuring that governance delivers tangible benefits to ordinary citizens.

“We in ADC have one single ideology that covers everything, to provide and bring closer to the people the dividends of democracy,” Chirzenden said.

He noted that the party had successfully concluded its primaries across the state, with candidates emerging for various elective positions, including Hembe as the governorship flag bearer noting that the party would not imposed a deputy governorship candidate on the people but would allow a transparent process to arrive at a generally acceptable choice.

Chirzenden said the committee was carefully selected based on merit, integrity and proven capacity, urging members to place the overall interest of the party above personal considerations.

Responding on behalf of the committee, its Chairman, Mr. Okpe Onah, thanked the party leadership for the confidence reposed in the members and pledged to carry out the assignment diligently.

He assured that the committee would work towards recommending a candidate capable of complementing the governorship candidate and strengthening the party’s chances in the 2027 election.

“Our governorship candidate cannot achieve victory alone. He needs a good running mate, and we shall spend all our time to ensure that we bring somebody who will be accepted by everybody in this party and across the state,” he said.

In her vote of thanks, ADC Zone C Chairman and committee member, Mrs. Abeje Egwa, expressed appreciation to the party leadership for the responsibility entrusted to the committee.

She assured members that they would justify the confidence placed in them by delivering a recommendation that would strengthen the party’s electoral prospects.