News Editor
By David Odama
A group in Benue State known as Movement for the Actualization of Kwande Gubernatorial Ambition (MAKGA) has, again, vowed to pursue the Kwande governorship ambition with diligence across all political parties to ensure it’s success in 2027.
The Convener of MAKGA, Ikyem Leonard made this vow in a statement signed and made available to our Correspondent on Sunday.
The group was responding to what they described as “a very disturbing video featuring the Ter Kwande, Engr Timothy Ahile, Ter Kwande IV, at the recently concluded Kwande United Peoples Organization (KWUPO) Youth Summit, held on Friday, July 4th, 2025, at Doo Palace Resort, Ushongo, Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue.”
According to themq, the Ter Kwande, in the said video, was heard discouraging Kwande sons not to contest for the governorship of Benue State in 2027, as according to him, the governorship is zoned to Jechira intermediate area.
He went further to state among other things that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has given so much powers to the office of the governor and they can crush anyone that confronts them.
“Instead, the traditional ruler however asked Kwande sons to contest for the Senate.”
Ikyem, in the statement titled “Apologies Ter Kwande Sir, Kwande 2027 Governorship Ambition still on” said the views from the highly revered traditional ruler were not only disturbing but also capable of being used by the government in power to gag the traditional institution.
While he appreciated the Ter Kwande for expressing his own freedom of expression, Ikyem said the issue of zoning of political positions is the preserve for political parties and not traditional rulers just elections are contested on the platform of political parties and not on the dictates of any traditional institution.
The statement read “It is sad that the Ter Kwande has unilaterally zoned the Senate to Kwande and governorship to Jechira without the knowledge of any political party or actor.
“Interestingly, no candidate will contest on the platform of any traditional stool but platform of political parties, who are yet to Zone the 2027 Senate and governorship seats.
“When the governorship was zoned to Jechira in 2022, it was for a period of four years, after which anyone is at liberty to contest, including the current occupant of the seat.
“Therefore, gagging Kwande sons not to contest the 2027 governorship election is an infringement on their fundamental rights to vote and be voted for, which is captured in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“It is necessary to inform the Ter Kwande that the requirements for contesting the governorship of Benue State in 2027 under the law does not state that one must be from Jechira Intermediate Area to contest the 2027 governorship election, neither does it disqualify anyone outside Jechira, like our brothers from Benue South Senatorial district from contesting the election.
“We invite the Ter Kwande to take notice of the provisions of Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which clearly states the requirements for contesting for the office of governor of a state, including Benue State.
“This is not the first time that an incumbent governor’s second term bid will be challenged by someone outside his intermediate area.
On the claims by the Ter Kwande that the Constitution of Nigeria has allocated so much powers to a governor and anyone nursing such ambition can be crushed by the governor, “This to us sounds more of a threat and is not an element of democracy.”
They noted that if the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has given governors so much powers and they can crush their opponents and return to power, former governors like Alhaji Akwe Doma (Nassarawa, 2011) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano, 2003), Ahmed Lawal (Kwara, 2003)
Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju (Anambra, 2003), Alhaji Mala Kachalla (Borno, 2003), Governor Ikedi Ohakim (Imo, 2011), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna, 2015), Prince Abubakar Audu (Kogi, 2003) and several others who were defeated at the polls would have won their respective second term bids.
“In the case of Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, he couldn’t even make it to the ballot in 2019. Or are such powers vested only in the office of the governor of Benue State?
“Also, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who even appointed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), also lost his second term bid to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
“The Ter Kwande must know that the executive powers of governors do not include announcing themselves as winners of election.
“It is not encouraging that a royal father will be championing the violation of the rights of his sons and daughters.
“What the Ter Kwande is championing is unconstitutional, retrogressive and barbaric. Benue and Nigeria practices democracy, where periodic elections, the right of people to vote and be voted for is one of the characteristics that defines it.
“We wish to state categorically and to assure our teeming members that the Kwande governorship project is still on course. We shall pursue it diligently across all political parties to ensure we succeed in 2027,” Ikyem said.
The group while expressing belief that political parties will agree with their agitation promised “we shall bring the governorship home to celebrate with the Ter Kwande.”
