Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, has secured the backing of the NDC Integrity Group, Zone C, for his re-election bid in the 2027 general elections, with the group declaring that Benue South needs an experienced and influential voice in the National Assembly.
The declaration was made on Friday, September 18, 2026, when leaders and members of the group paid a courtesy visit to Moro, during which they announced their decision to mobilise support for his return to the Senate.
The delegation, led by Hon. Yakubu Audu Romeo, said its decision followed what it described as an assessment of Moro’s record, experience and contribution to the development and representation of Benue South.
The group stressed that although its members remain in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), their decision to support Moro was based on what they described as the broader interest of the people rather than partisan considerations.
Romeo said the group entered politics to promote effective representation and development, insisting that the people of Benue South could not afford to lose their voice at the national level.
“We are not here because of personal interests. We are here because we want development for our people. We want effective representation, and we want our people to have a voice,” he said.
According to him, the group had undertaken consultations with political leaders as part of its strategic engagement ahead of the 2027 elections and had resolved to align with Moro.
Romeo acknowledged that the NDC had its own senatorial candidate, noting that the candidate was from his local government, but said members of the group had independently assessed the political situation before arriving at their decision.
He said the group believed Moro possessed the experience required to effectively represent the senatorial district and retain its influence in the National Assembly.
“We sat down and did our analysis. We came together. We are stakeholders in the party and we have built the party in our various capacities. But we believe that the person who can effectively represent us is Senator Abba Moro,” he said.
Romeo, who said he had been involved in politics since 1998 and had previously coordinated political activities for former Senate President David Mark, said the group’s support for Moro was not a temporary political arrangement.
“We are not here to joke. We are here to deliver. We are your foot soldiers. Send us, and we will go and deliver,” he declared.
‘Benue South Needs a Voice’
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of the NDC Integrity Group, Comrade Emmanuel Orih, said the zone had historically produced influential figures in the National Assembly and should continue to elect representatives capable of providing effective leadership.
Orih, who recalled his relationship with Moro dating back to his days in student unionism, described the senator as a leader who had provided mentorship and support to young people.
He argued that the representation of Benue South at the national level should remain progressive, particularly given the zone’s minority status in Benue State.
“We are a minority, but yet we have a voice at the national level, and it is because of the kind of people we send,” Orih said.
He urged voters to examine the records and capacity of candidates ahead of 2027, saying the group wanted a representative who could articulate the interests of the people and contribute to institutional development.
Orih also expressed support for Moro’s legislative initiatives, particularly his advocacy for constitutional reforms relating to political rotation and inclusion.
He said the group was prepared to work across party lines in pursuit of what it described as the collective interests of Benue South.
“We are here to openly declare our support for distinguished Senator Abba Moro to ensure that he will be back in the National Assembly,” he said.
Moro: ‘There Is Power in Unity’
Responding, Senator Moro thanked the delegation for what he described as a significant demonstration of confidence in his leadership.
Moro said political alliances and alignments could play important roles in shaping political outcomes and governance, stressing that public office should ultimately be about service to humanity.
“As a student of political science, I know the value of alliances and alignments. Alliances and alignments can bring on board government. They can also crumble government,” he said.
He welcomed the group’s decision to work with him, saying political differences should not prevent people from uniting around common interests.
“There is power in unity,” the senator declared.
Moro also endorsed the broader idea of strategic political alignment across party lines, saying individuals and groups with similar objectives could work together regardless of their political platforms.
He listed the PDP, APC, ADC, NDC, Labour Party and other political parties as examples of platforms from which people could potentially come together around shared objectives.
“At the appropriate time, we will introduce ourselves together… all of us that think the same way, that want to move in the same direction towards taking our people from where they are to where they want to be,” he said.
Moro Challenges Benue Leadership Over Zone C
The Senate Minority Leader also used the occasion to criticise the Benue State Government over what he described as inadequate attention to Benue South.
Moro alleged that the zone had been neglected by the state government and challenged those defending the administration to point to specific projects executed across the district.
He particularly questioned what he described as the limited presence of state government projects in parts of the zone and criticised the handling of security-related challenges affecting communities.
Moro said the people of Benue South should not accept what he described as second-class treatment in their own state.
“I come from a place that is being treated to a second-class citizenship in their own state. It is unacceptable, and we must not allow it,” he said.
The senator, however, framed the gathering as part of a wider struggle for greater political inclusion and development rather than a personal political contest.
He urged the delegation to return to their communities and mobilise support around the interests of the people.
“As it is now, many political parties have come together to work for a common cause. You are coming to work for the cause of your people, not for Abba Moro,” he said.
Moro assured the group that he was prepared to provide leadership for the emerging alliance, while urging members to remain united and focused.
He said the emerging political alignment could bring together stakeholders from different political parties who shared a common vision for the people of Benue South.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the declaration by the NDC Integrity Group adds another layer to the political realignments taking place in Benue South, as parties, political groups and individual stakeholders begin to position themselves ahead of the elections.
