Benue 2027: Columnist Sam Agwa warns against coalition seeking to unseat Alia

A columnist, Sam Agwa, has urged Benue State voters to look closely at the politicians now uniting against Governor Hyacinth Alia ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

In a piece dated 21 October 2026, Agwa described the alliance as a gathering of "strange bedfellows" — politicians with different histories and ambitions who have found one common goal: stopping Alia from returning for a second term.

He wrote that the coalition appears to be held together by grievances and the desire to win back lost influence, rather than by shared ideas for running the state.

Agwa said democracy allows former rivals to work together, and that Alia is not above criticism. But he argued that anyone seeking to replace the governor should tell Benue people what they would do differently.

"In 2027, Benue people must demand to know what those seeking Alia's removal intend to replace him with," he wrote.

What it means for voters

Agwa's argument is that the election should turn on whether the state is moving forward, not on which political camp can gather the biggest crowd.

He said the governor's record should be judged fairly, and that if continuity offers the stronger promise, Alia deserves another mandate. He also warned voters not to be swayed by the glamour of the coalition.

The column did not name the politicians in the alliance, and it gave no details of its plans or funding. It also did not say which parties or groups are involved.

What happens next will depend on how the 2027 race takes shape: whether the coalition formally registers a candidate, and whether the governor's camp puts its record before voters. For now, the piece is one voice in a debate that is likely to grow louder as the election nears.