The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Benue North-East senatorial district, Hon. Tyolumun Unongo, and the party’s candidate for the Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency, Hon. Mkeenem Moses, have held a consultation with residents of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, appealing for their support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The two candidates engaged the people on October 4th 2026, at the ACC play ground, addressing them separately on their aspirations and what they intend to do if elected. The visit forms part of the grassroots engagements that political parties and candidates typically undertake as they seek to present themselves to voters and understand the concerns of the communities they hope to represent.
Speaking to residents, Hon. Unongo told the gathering that it was the turn of Kwande people to produce a senator for the district. He described the slot as long overdue and said he had come to fill that vacuum. The argument draws on a long-running conversation in Nigerian politics about zoning and rotation, in which communities within a senatorial district often expect that opportunities to occupy elective offices should be shared fairly among the different areas that make up the district.
Hon. Unongo also promised to deliver development to the people if he is elected. While he did not, according to available accounts of the event, list specific projects, such pledges generally raise expectations around basic needs such as roads, healthcare, education, water supply, and economic opportunities, which are the issues most commonly cited by residents of rural communities in Benue and across Nigeria.
In a pointed message, the senatorial candidate warned residents against being deceived again by those who had been voted into office in the past but failed to deliver. He urged the people not to allow such individuals to return and mislead them a second time. The remark is a familiar feature of campaign rhetoric in which candidates draw a contrast between themselves and previous office holders, and it is ultimately for voters to weigh such claims against the record of each candidate.
Also addressing the people, Hon. Mkeenem Moses, who is contesting for the Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency seat in the House of Representatives, assured residents that they would not regret placing their trust in him. He said that if voted into office, he and his colleague would not disappoint the people who elected them. Federal constituency representatives are responsible for lawmaking and oversight at the national level, and they also play a role in attracting constituency projects and empowerment programmes to their areas, which makes the relationship between a lawmaker and the electorate a key measure of performance.
The two candidates further called on residents to vote for Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, the PDP’s flag bearer in the Benue State governorship election. They expressed the belief that his election would bring the change that the people of the state have been yearning for. Chief Aondoakaa is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a former Attorney-General of the Federation, and he is the party’s standard bearer in the contest to lead the state.
Kwande is one of the local government areas of Benue State, with its headquarters at Adikpo. The area is largely agrarian, and many of its residents depend on farming and related activities for their livelihoods. Like many rural communities in the state, Kwande has faced challenges that residents and observers frequently highlight, including the condition of roads, access to quality public services, and the effects of insecurity in parts of the state on farming and community life. These realities explain why candidates visiting such communities are often asked to speak clearly about how they intend to improve local conditions.
It is important to note that Hon. Unongo and Hon. Mkeenem are not the only contenders for these offices. Other political parties and candidates are expected to canvass for votes in Kwande and across Benue State, and residents are entitled to hear from all of them before making their choice. This publication will continue to follow developments in the campaign and will report the views of other candidates and parties as they become available.
