Benue: Labour Party’s gov’ship candidate unveils female running mate

The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Benue State, Dr. Mathias Byuan, on Monday, unveiled a female running mate, Mrs. Juliana Obetta. Byuan, a former Executive Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), described the move as a bold step toward inclusion, mobilization, and a new political direction for the state. He made the announcement at the party’s state secretariat in Makurdi during a strategic engagement, where he also thanked stakeholders for affirming his candidacy as the party’s governorship flag bearer. He assured that alongside Mrs. Obetta as his deputy, and with the overwhelming support of the Benue people, the party will take over leadership to reposition the state from a civil service-dependent structure to an industrialized economy. “We will transform Benue. We have what it takes to become an industrial state. We will fix education, create jobs for our teeming youths, and upgrade our health facilities,” Byuan said. On her part, Obetta described her nomination as historic for Benue women, expressing honor at becoming the first female deputy governorship candidate on a major ticket in the state’s political history. She pledged loyalty to the ticket and vowed to support all efforts directed at tackling insecurity and improving governance. “I have served as the first elected female council chairman between 2012 and 2014. I wholeheartedly accept this nomination. This is a mandate for Benue women. We will work together to win and deliver good governance,” she said. The State Chairman of the party, William Okefe, assured that the party structure would work tirelessly to ensure victory for the Labour Party in the 2027 general elections, adding that Obetta’s grassroots strength would significantly boost mobilization efforts across the state.