The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Benue, Dr Mathias Byuan, has named Mrs Juliana Obetta as his running mate for the 2027 election.
Byuan, who made the announcement on Monday at his governorship campaign office in Makurdi, said the decision followed wide consultations within the party and across the state.
The governorship candidate described Obetta’s nomination as a deliberate effort to promote women’s inclusion in governance.
He said the nomination marked the first time the party would be presenting a woman for the position in Benue and expressed confidence that the move would strengthen women’s participation in politics and governance.
The candidate, who claimed he received the endorsement of Benue people to contest for governor, promised to transform the state from a civil service-dependent economy into an industrial and commercial hub through investments and public-private partnerships.
According to him, his administration would focus on industrialisation, youth employment, education, healthcare and prudent management of public resources.
The LP flag bearer also described himself as a “community governor” who would run an inclusive administration and ensure that women play greater roles in governance.
In her acceptance speech, Obetta thanked the party leadership for the confidence reposed in her and dedicated her nomination to the women of Benue.
She described the nomination as a historic milestone for women’s political participation and pledged to champion women’s interests if elected.
Obetta, a former chairman of the Okpokwu Local Government and a long-time women’s mobiliser in political campaigns, said women constitute a significant percentage of the state’s voting population but are often sidelined after elections.
She commended the Labour Party for recognising the contributions of women and giving them a prominent place in its political structure.
The deputy governorship nominee promised to work towards achieving the 35 per cent affirmative action target for women in government appointments and decision-making processes.
She also identified insecurity as one of the major challenges confronting the state and stressed the need to restore security as a foundation for economic and social development.
Obetta called on women across the state to mobilise support for the Labour Party and participate actively in the electoral process.
She expressed confidence that women would rally behind the party and that their support would be rewarded through greater inclusion and development when the party assumes office.
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