Follow Us on Google
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
A former Director at the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Comfort Iwambe, has formally declared her intention to contest for the governorship of the state.
Her declaration has opened a new chapter in the political history of Benue State, as she becomes the first woman to openly join the race ahead of the 2027 elections.
Addressing newsmen and supporters in Makurdi on Monday, Mrs Iwambe, a seasoned public administrator, said her decision was driven by a deep sense of duty and a desire to confront the state’s pressing challenges with a fresh leadership approach.
Iwambe, a 1998 graduate of Public Administration from Ahmadu Bello University who hails from the Konshisha Local Government Area (LGA), described herself as a grassroots-oriented leader who understands the daily struggles of ordinary citizens.
She noted that leadership has been dominated by men since the creation of Benue State in 1976. “While we acknowledge their contributions, the time has come to embrace a new perspective,” she said, noting that women across Nigeria and globally have proven their capacity for effective and result-driven governance.
Contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Iwambe outlined a five-point agenda focused on security reform and community protection, agricultural transformation and food security, functional education and healthcare systems, transparent salary and pension administration, and the empowerment of women, youth, and People with Disabilities (PWDs).
She stated that the state is challenged by serious insecurity, economic hardship, and the displacement of communities, as well as a weakening of key social institutions. She maintained that these issues require firm, compassionate, strategic, and people-oriented leadership.
Other News
“Our situation demands leadership that is both firm and people-centred. I am not just an aspirant; I am prepared to deliver measurable results,” she stated.
The female aspirant called on fellow contenders to see the contest as a collective mission rather than a divisive struggle, explaining that the goal should be to restore and reposition Benue State for sustainable growth.
Asked which camp of the APC she belongs to, Iwambe stated that she does not know any other APC besides the one founded and led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
She said that for decades, the Benue people have known how the APC started as the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Benue and who brought the party to the state.
She said, “We know the person that brought APC in Benue State and North Central region of Nigeria. So, actually, I myself, I don’t know that there are two APC in Benue State. So, APC belongs to Benue people, and their leader is Senator George Akume, the George of Africa. That is our leader. So, I can’t follow any other group. Actually, there is no other group.”
In their separate testimonies, Mrs Margaret Bija, a former Director and boss of the aspirant, and Mrs Julie Ibu, a retired civil servant, said women have not had their fair share of governance since the creation of Benue State. They expressed confidence that if elected, Iwambe would elevate the condition of women and children in the state.
Similarly, Mr Isaac Akase, an APC elder in Konshisha LGA, described Iwambe as capable and peace-loving. “She is our mother from Konshisha and we know her very well. She loves peace and development and abhors disunity. As a former civil servant who knows the plight of Benue workers, when she comes on board the civil servants would enjoy,” he said.
