Professor Sebastine Hon (SAN), has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 Benue State governorship election, announcing his ambition to challenge and ultimately unseat the incumbent governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia.
He made the announcement late on Monday during a series of consultative visits to his maternal kindred in the Mbayion clan and Mbatiav communities, both in the Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. The meetings were described as informal consultations, held in line with electoral regulations stipulating that active campaign activities remain restricted until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formally lifts the ban on campaigns.
Speaking to community leaders in Ihungwanor and Akapher, Hon said his governorship ambition was “divinely inspired” and expressed unwavering confidence in his ability to win the 2027 election.
The legal luminary underscored that the consultations were not electioneering in the formal sense but rather an opportunity to share his vision with key stakeholders in his home area.
A central theme of Hon’s address was the controversial issue of zoning the political arrangement that aims to rotate political offices among Benue’s diverse zones.
Therefore, Hon argued that the zoning arrangement has been inconsistently applied over the years, resulting in imbalances. He highlighted the political history of the state, noting: Aper Aku governed for four years and three months; Rev. Moses Orshio Adasu for one year, 10 months and 17 days; Gabriel Suswam served for eight years; and Governor Alia is expected to complete a four-year tenure.
“All these leaders hail from Zone A, amounting to a cumulative total of about 18 years and 17 days in power,” Hon said, suggesting that this track record reveals an inequitable political arrangement.
He contrasted this with the combined tenure of governors from Zone B, citing George Akume and Samuel Ortom, who together have governed the state for 16 years, each completing two full terms.
Hon also took aim at specific political decisions and appointments made during Governor Alia’s administration, asserting that they had “effectively weakened the zoning arrangement in the state.”
He cited several examples, including what he described as partial local government appointments in Vandeikya, Kwande, and changes to the Benue State House of Assembly leadership, suggesting these moves undermine long-standing political expectations and fairness.
At both consultations, local voices rallied around Hon’s bid. Several speakers, including former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajo; former President-General of the Mbatiav Development Association, Terfa Usoho; and community stakeholder Terfa Chagba, voiced support for an open contest in 2027.
They argued that since all zones in Benue have previously produced governors, every qualified aspirant should be free to run, adding weight to calls for inclusivity in the electoral process.
A highlight of the consultation in Mbatiav was Hon’s visit to the Mbatiav Traditional Council Hall in Akapher, where he paid homage to traditional rulers and sought their blessings ahead of his political campaign.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, who succeeded former Governor Samuel Ortom in 2023, has faced both political support and criticism during his tenure. While the Benue State House of Assembly recently passed a unanimous vote of confidence in Alia’s leadership, commending his efforts in addressing financial, social, and security challenges in the state, there have also been ongoing debates about political direction and party cohesion in Benue.
Hon’s entry into the race sets the stage for what is likely to be a competitive and closely watched governorship contest in 2027, as political actors and communities prepare for the next chapter in Benue’s leadership.
