2027: You’ll win Benue by landslide – Onjeh tells Obi

The 2027 Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Benue South Senatorial Candidate, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has told the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, that he expects him to win Benue State by a landslide in the 2027 presidential election. Onjeh said this when he led a delegation of Benue State NDC National Assembly candidates on a strategic visit to the former Anambra State Governor.

Asked about the purpose of the visit, Onjeh said the delegation had gone to meet Obi to review what happened in the 2023 presidential election, look at the political situation in Benue and discuss what lies ahead in 2027. He described Obi’s performance in Benue State during the 2023 presidential election as impressive and outstanding, adding that he expects the former Anambra State Governor to receive even greater support in 2027.

Onjeh said the delegation also discussed the state’s voting strength and the interest being shown in voter registration. He maintained that the support Obi received in 2023 reflected a desire for political change among sections of the electorate. The former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said the delegation also appealed to Obi to make Benue State a priority, especially after what he described as the deliberate obstruction of his previous attempts to visit the state.

Onjeh questioned why a Nigerian citizen should be prevented from travelling freely within his own country, describing such interference as unacceptable. He said the candidates encouraged Obi to put those experiences behind him and assured him that the concerns previously raised to stop his visits would be adequately addressed. They also urged him to return and complete his humanitarian mission to Benue and spend sufficient time with the people during his proposed presidential campaign tour.

Obi, according to Onjeh, assured the delegation that Benue remained dear to his heart and that he would return to spend ample time with the people. He said the former Anambra State Governor spoke about equity and justice, stressing that no part of Nigeria should be left out of his engagements with the people. Beyond the discussions about Benue, Onjeh said Obi had an important message for the National Assembly candidates: they must prepare, organise themselves and their supporters, and ensure that the votes cast by Nigerians are protected.

He explained that Obi placed particular emphasis on the need for Nigerians not only to vote but also to ensure that their votes count. According to Onjeh, Obi linked this to the country’s future, arguing that unless Nigerians can freely choose their leaders and have those choices respected, the country will continue to struggle with poverty and the other challenges holding back its development.

He said Obi also spoke about the need for Nigeria to make progress in technology and other sectors, noting that credible elections and accountable leadership were essential to moving the country forward. Onjeh, a former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, said the meeting also allowed the Benue candidates to discuss their preparations and exchange views with Obi on developments in the state.

The former President of the West African Students’ Union (WASU) said the delegation left with a clear message about the importance of preparing early, working together and ensuring that voters are able to exercise their rights without interference. He maintained that the 2027 election would provide another opportunity for the people of Benue to make their choice through the ballot.