Benue North-West Senate Race Heats Up as Ortom, Zam and Awunah Eye 2027 Showdown

The battle for the Benue North-West Senatorial District, popularly known as Zone B, is already gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, with three prominent figures emerging as key contenders in what is expected to be one of the state’s most closely watched political contests.

Leading the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket is Dr. Eunice Erdoo Ortom, former First Lady of Benue State and founder of the Eunice Spring of Life Foundation. She secured the party’s nomination following a consensus process endorsed by party stakeholders across the district’s seven local government areas.

Supporters of Ortom say her years as First Lady were marked by programmes focused on healthcare, education, women, children, widows and internally displaced persons. They also point to her humanitarian work through her foundation and argue that her experience in public service positions her to represent the district effectively in the Senate.

However, her emergence has not been without controversy. Some party members have questioned the nomination process, alleging that her candidacy was imposed rather than openly contested. Her supporters reject those claims, maintaining that the consensus arrangement followed internal consultations after former Governor Samuel Ortom declined the opportunity to seek the ticket.

If elected, Eunice Ortom would become only the second woman from Benue State to serve in the Nigerian Senate.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to field incumbent Senator Titus Tartenger Zam, who has represented Zone B since winning the 2023 election against former Governor Samuel Ortom.

Since arriving in the Senate, Zam has chaired the Committee on Rules and Business as well as the Committee on the North Central Development Commission. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions.

His supporters credit him with sponsoring legislation and motions relating to ranching, open grazing and agricultural development, arguing that his leadership roles give him the influence needed to attract more opportunities to the district.

Despite being the incumbent, Zam’s return as the APC candidate has generated internal debate. He was initially defeated during the party’s primary election but later reclaimed the ticket after the APC National Working Committee upheld his appeal and reversed the earlier outcome. The decision drew criticism from some party members, while his supporters insist it was made in accordance with party procedures.

Also expected to feature prominently in the race is Dave Awunah of the Labour Party, who is positioning himself as an alternative to the two major political parties. His campaign has focused on offering voters a fresh direction as the Labour Party seeks to strengthen its presence in Zone B.

With the PDP, APC and Labour Party all fielding strong contenders, the Benue North-West senatorial contest is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive three-way race. As campaigning gathers pace, voters will weigh the experience of a former First Lady, the legislative record of an incumbent senator and the promise of a third-party challenger before deciding who will represent the district in the next National Assembly.