By EMMANUEL ANTSWEN

Six political parties in Benue South Senatorial District have lent their support for the re-election of Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro, in the 2027 general elections.

Leaders of the political parties made their positions known on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Otukpo ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The parties Include African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Labour Party (LP) and National Rescue Movement (NRM).

Mr Simon Ogbe, State Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party, who spoke on behalf of the parties said the meeting was convened to enable stakeholders assess candidates ahead of the 2027 election.

Ogbe said participating parties had undertaken what he described as due diligence and assessment of the candidates before arriving at their position.

“After due diligence and verification of all the candidates that are contesting this election, we have assessed them and we have come to an agreement,” he said.

He said the parties would formally endorse Moro after further consultations with their candidates and structures at the grassroots.

“We have been having this critical stakeholder meeting ahead of a powerful endorsement in the coming days,” Ogbe said.

He said the parties were also opposed to what they described as attempts by other political actors in the state to impose a candidate on Benue South.

“We are not going to give room for our oppressors to come and anoint and install a senatorial candidate in Benue South for 2027,” he said.

Ogbe said the participating parties would mobilise other political parties in the senatorial district ahead of the formal endorsement.

Elias Adikwu, factional State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said members of the faction, which he described as the “Legacy ADC,” had resolved to support Moro.

Adikwu said the decision followed consultations with chairmen, women and youth leaders of the faction from the senatorial district.

“We had a meeting and arrived at a decision, and our decision is to support for Sen. Abba Moro,” he said.

He, however, said the faction remained distinct from other factions of the ADC and was awaiting a court decision concerning its recognition.

“We have two factions, distinct factions in our party, and we are the Legacy party,” Adikwu said.

Ibrahim Idoko, State Leader of the Labour Party’s Abure faction in Benue, said his faction also deliberated on the senatorial contest with stakeholders from the zone.

Idoko said the faction would continue consultations with its members but expressed support for Moro based on what he described as his humility and personal qualities.

“We agree that the election of the senator, inasmuch as we are going to vote according to election, will remain sacrosanct.

“After now, we will still continue to mobilise our people, and we may disagree to agree, but I can assure you, our support at the end of our engagement with our people will still be for the senator, distinguished Sen. Abba Moro, he said “.

Ochanya Attah , ADC Woman Leader, said women leaders at the meeting had also agreed to work collectively in support of Moro.

“Our purpose of being here today is to join our heads together and work with an honourable, great man,” Attah said.

She said the women leaders would take the message of the proposed cross-party support to their respective constituencies.

The development comes amid recent cross-party realignments in Benue South ahead of the 2027 elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a faction of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Integrity Group in the district also recently announced support for Moro while retaining its membership of the NDC.

Moro, a Senate Minority Leader and incumbent senator representing Benue South, is seeking re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). (NAN)