BENUE 2027: AGOM SECURES ABUJA SUPPORT, BUT CONSTITUENTS DEMAND BETTER PERFORMANCE

Community leaders rally behind House of Representatives hopeful on zoning grounds, while some supporters question his record and reject automatic support for APC candidates

By Okwo Romeon | Nigeria Anchorage

The 2027 House of Representatives ambition of Hon. Tony Agom has received a boost from members of his constituency resident in Abuja, although their support has come with calls for improved performance, accountability and stronger representation.

At a consultation meeting in Abuja, community leaders and other constituents expressed varying positions on Agom's ambition to represent Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, with some pledging to mobilise support for him because the seat had been zoned to their area.

However, the gathering also exposed differences over the performance of elected representatives, the popularity of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and whether support for Agom should automatically translate into votes for other candidates on the party's platform.

The meeting was organised to enable Agom, who is seeking election in 2027, to interact with constituents, explain his ambition and solicit their support.

Speaking on the significance of the engagement, Comrade Daniel Agbo Ichukwu Chairman of Oche  Okpoga Community Development, Abuja branch, said the meeting followed Agom's request for an opportunity to consult members of his community.

Agbo explained that Abuja was an important starting point because many influential members of the community, including traditional kingmakers and other stakeholders, reside in the Federal Capital Territory.

He described Abuja as a strategic centre for mobilising support and reaching relatives and political stakeholders back home.

Rejecting the suggestion that the community members were Agom's political godfathers, Agbo insisted that their relationship with the aspirant was based on shared ancestry and community ties.

"We are his brothers, we are his kinsmen, right from home. We are from the same constituency, the same village," he said.

On the political direction of the community ahead of the election, Agbo made it clear that his support for Agom should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the APC at every level.

He said the community was supporting the individual candidate rather than the party, arguing that the people wanted someone from their constituency to occupy the federal legislative seat.

"We are not supporting APC in totality. We are doing personality this time," he said.

He also expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as the failure of the state government to adequately recognise Zone C, insisting that he would not campaign for the governor or the President merely because Agom was contesting on the APC platform.

Agbo urged constituents to support Agom because of his origin and the opportunity to retain the federal constituency's representation within the area.

He acknowledged that the aspirant's previous performance had not been entirely satisfactory but said Agom had promised to correct his mistakes.

Former council chairman backs APC ticket

A different position was expressed by Vincent Omale, a former chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area and a prominent APC figure, who described the Abuja consultation as an opportunity for the candidate to seek the support of his people.

Omale said Agom had served as a member of the Benue State House of Assembly and was now seeking election to the House of Representatives.

According to him, the community had accepted his appeal and was prepared to support his ambition.

He rejected the description of community leaders as political godfathers, saying their role was to provide guidance and support rather than practise political godfatherism.

"We are not his godfather. God Almighty is his godfather. We only support him to make sure he is there," Omale said.

He explained that Abuja was strategically important because many residents maintained close family and community connections with people back home, making it possible to mobilise support across different locations.

Unlike Agbo, Omale expressed satisfaction with the performance of Governor Hyacinth Alia and declared his support for the APC.

He said the governor had made progress in Benue and deserved another opportunity to continue his administration.

"We are not looking at any other party but APC, and our governor is Hyacinth Alia. He has tried so well. Benue State has changed, and we are believing that when he comes back, he will do more for us," he said.

Omale further called on constituents to support President Bola Tinubu, Governor Alia, Senator Francis Aluor Ako, Agom and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

He described such a collective political arrangement as a way of building a formidable team for the state.

Support comes with performance concerns

However, not all the constituents who attended the meeting expressed unqualified confidence in Agom's previous record.

Mr Cletus Unogu Ogabo, a  (Rtd )  Central Bank of Nigeria staff member, said the aspirant had not fully met expectations during his tenure in the Benue State House of Assembly.

He nevertheless argued that the zoning arrangement had created an opportunity for the constituency to retain the House of Representatives seat, making it important for the people to rally behind their own candidate.

Ogabo said the community was prepared to overlook some of the shortcomings of Agom's previous representation, provided he demonstrated a genuine commitment to doing better if elected to the National Assembly.

"Frankly speaking, the Honourable has not lived up to expectation. But since they have zoned this House of Representatives to our zone, we want to rally around our own," he said.

He maintained that the candidate must not repeat the mistakes of the past, adding that his next opportunity in public office should translate into more visible benefits for the constituency.

According to him, Agom had acknowledged his previous shortcomings and promised to make amends.

"Now that he is aspiring to go higher, we are now mandating him that he should not leave us behind," Ogabo said.

He also disclosed that Abuja-based constituents intended to use their family and community networks to encourage voters at home to support the candidate.

However, Ogabo rejected the idea of automatic support for every APC candidate, arguing that the performance of the President and the Benue State Governor should also be assessed independently.

He specifically criticised the performance of both levels of government, insisting that support for Agom should not be confused with an endorsement of the entire APC ticket.

"We are voting personality because since they have zoned this thing now to Okwoga, we cannot leave our own," he said.

Zoning versus performance

The different positions expressed at the meeting point to the political considerations likely to shape the 2027 contest in the constituency.

For Agbo the priority is to support a candidate from his community without necessarily endorsing the performance of the ruling party at the state and federal levels.

Comdr: Daniel Agbo Ichukwu.
Ai- Oche Okpoga Community Development Abuja branch

Omale, on the other hand, sees Agom's ambition as part of a broader APC political project and believes the achievements of Governor Alia provide reasons for continued support for the party.

Ogabo's position reflects a more conditional approach: retain the seat within the constituency, but demand better performance from the person seeking to represent it.

The common thread among the three interviews is the importance of local identity, zoning and the desire to retain representation within the constituency. Yet the differences also underline that community support does not necessarily translate into a uniform voting decision.

For Agom, the challenge ahead will therefore extend beyond securing endorsements from Abuja-based stakeholders. He will have to convince voters that his proposed move to the National Assembly will deliver stronger representation, effective legislative engagement and tangible development benefits to the constituency.

As the 2027 election approaches, the message from the Abuja consultation appears clear: constituents may be willing to rally behind their own, but they also expect accountability and a better record of service.