Benue LP governorship candidate picks female running mate

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The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Benue, Dr Mathias Byuan, has named Mrs Juliana Obetta as his running mate for the 2027 election.

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Byuan, who made the announcement on Monday at his governorship campaign office in Makurdi, said the decision followed wide consultations within the party and across the state.

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The governorship candidate described Obetta’s nomination as a deliberate effort to promote women’s inclusion in governance.

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He said the nomination marked the first time the party would be presenting a woman for the position in Benue and expressed confidence that the move would strengthen women’s participation in politics and governance.

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The candidate, who claimed he received the endorsement of Benue people to contest for governor, promised to transform the state from a civil service-dependent economy into an industrial and commercial hub through investments and public-private partnerships.

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According to him, his administration would focus on industrialisation, youth employment, education, healthcare and prudent management of public resources.

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The LP flag bearer also described himself as a “community governor” who would run an inclusive administration and ensure that women play greater roles in governance.

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In her acceptance speech, Obetta thanked the party leadership for the confidence reposed in her and dedicated her nomination to the women of Benue.

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She described the nomination as a historic milestone for women’s political participation and pledged to champion women’s interests if elected.

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Obetta, a former chairman of the Okpokwu Local Government and a long-time women’s mobiliser in political campaigns, said women constitute a significant percentage of the state’s voting population but are often sidelined after elections.

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She commended the Labour Party for recognising the contributions of women and giving them a prominent place in its political structure.

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The deputy governorship nominee promised to work towards achieving the 35 per cent affirmative action target for women in government appointments and decision-making processes.

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She also identified insecurity as one of the major challenges confronting the state and stressed the need to restore security as a foundation for economic and social development.

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Obetta called on women across the state to mobilise support for the Labour Party and participate actively in the electoral process.

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She expressed confidence that women would rally behind the party and that their support would be rewarded through greater inclusion and development when the party assumes office.

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