Labour Party Unveils Juliana Obetta as Benue Deputy Governorship Candidate for 2027

The Labour Party (LP) in Benue State has unveiled former Okpokwu Local Government Chairman, Juliana Obetta, as the running mate for Mathias Byuan, the party Governorship candidate in the 2027 governorship election.

Mrs. Obetta was officially presented on Monday at the party’s state secretariat in Makurdi by the member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Peter Agbese.

Byuan, a former Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Director, had emerged Labour Party’s governorship candidate through affirmation during the Labour Party’s primary election held on Saturday.

Speaking shortly after the presentation, Byuan expressed confidence in the party’s chances in the 2027 election, stating that the people of Benue had already signaled their desire for a change in leadership.

He called on residents of the state to support the Labour Party at the polls, promising to transform Benue from what he described as a predominantly civil service-driven economy into an industrialized and economically viable state.

The governorship candidate also criticized the current administration, arguing that despite significant federal allocations and interventions to the state under the administration of Bola Tinubu, the impact on the lives of ordinary citizens remains limited.

According to him, his administration would prioritize grassroots development and local economic growth by investing resources within the state to create employment opportunities for young people.

Byuan further pledged to improve access to education, saying his government would work towards ensuring that a majority of schools, about 60 percent, in the state provide free education to ease the financial burden on parents who usually would have to sell goats and yams to pay school fees.

He explained that the decision to pick Obetta as his running mate followed extensive consultations within the party, adding that the choice was aimed at promoting inclusion and giving women a stronger voice in governance.

“We have chosen a woman who understands grassroots politics and the challenges facing ordinary people. This is part of our commitment to ensuring that women are adequately represented in government,” he said.

In her acceptance speech, Juliana Obetta described her nomination as a victory for women across Benue State, pledging to use the opportunity to advocate for greater female participation in politics and governance.

The former council chairman, who made history as the first woman elected chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area between 2012 and 2014, said women remain a critical voting bloc and deserve greater recognition in leadership positions.

She lamented a situation where women actively participate in elections but are often sidelined after governments are formed, describing her emergence as a significant step towards correcting that imbalance.

“This nomination is for the women of Benue State. Women constitute a substantial percentage of the voting population, yet they are often excluded from key decision-making positions after elections,” she said.

Obetta pledged to work closely with the wife of the governorship candidate and other stakeholders to promote policies that would advance women’s interests and ensure the realization of the 35 percent affirmative action target for women in governance.

Also speaking, the Benue State Chairman of the Labour Party, William Okefe, commended the party’s national leadership under Nenadi Usman for supporting the emergence of the party’s candidates.

Okefe expressed optimism that the Byuan-Obetta ticket would provide the leadership needed to reposition Benue State and pledged the commitment of party members to work towards securing victory in the 2027 governorship election.