Senator Moro’s Office dismisses Benue South zoning claims as “self-serving”

By Benedicta Aboh

The office of Senate Minority Leader and Benue South Senator, Comrade Abba Moro, has rejected claims by a group calling itself the Benue South Strategic Group, which recently announced a zoning arrangement for the senatorial seat.

In a statement by his Media Adviser, Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John, Moro’s office described the group’s announcement as “amusing and without legal or constitutional backing.”

At a recent press conference, the group’s leader, Benson Abuonu, stated that the 2027 senatorial seat should be restricted to aspirants from Apa/Agatu or Oju/Obi federal constituencies, advising candidates from Otukpo/Ohimini and Enone to abandon their ambitions.

The Media Adviser noted that "the authority with which this group claims to zone the senatorial seat is questionable and clearly contradicts the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“Members of this group are affiliated with a single political party and cannot speak on behalf of all parties or the people of Benue South,” the statement added.

Moro’s office accused the group of pursuing a personal political agenda under the guise of zoning. “It is preposterous for a few individuals with their own interests to demand that others jettison their legitimate aspirations,” the statement added.

While Senator Moro supports zoning as a principle of fairness and inclusion, his office stressed that he would not condone its manipulation for partisan or personal purposes.

“Senator Moro believes in equity and introduced the Power Rotation Bill to constitutionally enable rotation of power among the district’s blocs,” the statement noted.

The statement also highlighted that previous senators from Benue South, including David Mark and Ameh Ebute, emerged without zoning restrictions, emphasizing that electoral contests should remain open.

The aide urged the group to engage directly with the electorate instead of “flying a zoning kite that won’t fly,” and called on residents of Benue South to disregard the group’s claims, describing it as acting in pursuit of a personal vendetta rather than the public interest.