Excitement in Benue South as Francis Agbo clinches APC Senatorial ticket

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The declaration of a journalist and former member of House Representatives, Francis Ottah Agbo as the winner of the All Progressives Congress, APC senatorial ticket for Benue South senatorial district has been greeted with excitement, joy and great expectations among the people of the zone. Agbo, who is affectionately known as ‘Ozigizaga’ by his admirers scored over 7000 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Patrick Idoko who could only marshaled 311 votes in the primary conducted to choose the APC candidate for Benue South senatorial district in the 2027 election.

The announcement of the ex-Rep member as the winner of the senatorial ticket was met with dancing and celebrations by those who were present when the results were reeled out. Agbo, who was also present, was lifted high in celebration by party supporters, thus setting off a celebration that dovetailed late into Monday night and has continued across the senatorial district.

Significantly unlike in other places, the other aspirants have no grounds to allege foul play because of the transparency of the process. The massive victory of Agbo, a former special adviser to a governor was also not unexpected.

Since he joined the APC from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Agbo has demonstrated his support for efforts of Governor Hyacinth Alia in the efforts to tackle the socio-economic and security challenges confronting Benue State. He was doing this without the assurance of getting the senatorial ticket of the party while his opponents were nowhere to be found at the time. So, it was not a surprise that some of his opponents have tried to link his victory to support from the governor.  But the fact is that they would also have ridden on such support if they have been able to work for it beyond just showing up in the battle for the senatorial ticket.

Even at that, Agbo’s strides as a member of the House of Representatives representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency with facilitation of jobs, massive empowerment and interventions in the areas of health, roads, electricity among others for the benefit of communities across the zone were well documented. These achievements, for which he was variously, nicknamed ‘Mr. Capacity’ ‘Mr. Employment’ ‘Mr. Infrastructure’ in the federal constituency is no doubt the single most important factor in his victory.

Indeed, a group of young people who were beneficiaries of his job facilitation efforts who are gainfully employed with Federal Government’s agencies had in the heat of the campaign for the senatorial ticket presented a N25m cheque to him as a token of their appreciation to support his ambition.

“It was a monumental support that I will cherish for a very long time. It is the spirit behind their visit that matters, not the sum or figure of money donated. We would have still cherished this visit without a donation. The gesture will spur me to do more for the masses, if I emerge a Senator in 2027,” Agbo had remarked. Thus, it was not a surprise that he was endorsed by critical stakeholders including the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, religious groups, veteran political leaders and others across the senatorial district and beyond.

During the campaign, Agbo had also unveiled his agenda tagged ‘Liberation Reloaded’ anchored on 4 Cs of leadership (Capacity, Courage, Character & Compassion) that will turn the senatorial zone huge construction site with delivery of long denied, but crucial infrastructure projects and critical interventions in health, power, and industrialization among others.

“We shall rebrand Benue South in such a way that we shall take our zone to the world and bring the world to Benue South, he said. With such promises, it was not a surprise that Ozigizaga’s victory was met with wild jubilation in the nooks and crannies of Benue South Senatorial District. The next challenge is at the polls in 2027.