Godwin Obla, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the founder of the Godwin Obla Foundation, has shed light on why the Idoma ethnic group has never produced a governor in Benue State since its establishment in 1976. He pointed to a lack of demographic strength and persistent internal divisions among Idoma political leaders as the primary reasons.
During a centenary lecture titled “The Political Choices of the Idoma People Since 1950: Context, Consequences, and the Path Forward,” delivered at the Idoma Centenary Plus Celebration in Otukpo, Obla noted that although the Idoma are the second-largest ethnic group in Benue, they have been shut out of the state’s top political office for nearly five decades.
“Since 1976, no Idoma individual has been elected governor. For fifty years, the second-largest ethnic group has not occupied the Government House in Makurdi,” Obla stated. He explained that the state’s political structure disadvantages the Idoma and Igede people numerically, with Zones A and B, predominantly Tiv, controlling 14 local government areas, while Zone C, which is largely Idoma and Igede, has only nine. “The arithmetic is straightforward and merciless,” he added, noting that under a majoritarian electoral system, the Tiv majority has consistently retained the governorship.
However, Obla argued that demographics alone do not tell the full story. He emphasized that internal fragmentation among Idoma political elites has repeatedly undermined their chances. “Time and again, when the opportunity for an Idoma governorship emerges, the elite fracture along personal rivalries, generational divides, and competing ambitions,” he said. Instead of uniting behind a consensus candidate, multiple aspirants often emerge, splitting the Idoma vote and weakening their bargaining power. This pattern of disunity, Obla lamented, has been a recurring theme since the early days of political organization in Idomaland.
He also criticized the failure of successive Idoma political leaders to translate national influence into local development. While acknowledging that Idoma sons have held high national positions, including Senate President, federal ministers, military governors, and diplomats, Obla pointed out that many communities in Idomaland still suffer from poor infrastructure, insecurity, and underdevelopment. “National political prominence, however impressive, is not a substitute for local development,” he stressed.
To address these challenges, Obla called for the creation of a permanent, non-partisan Idoma Political Consultative Forum to build consensus before elections and prevent the divisions that have hindered the community’s political ambitions. He urged the Idoma people to invest more in voter education, grassroots mobilization, and cross-ethnic political alliances that can attract support beyond Zone C. According to Obla, an Idoma governor can only emerge through strategic coalition-building and a development agenda that appeals to the entire state.
Describing the Idoma Centenary Plus Celebration as a moment for self-reflection and political renewal, Obla encouraged the younger generation to take an active role in shaping the future of the Idoma people. He concluded that the next phase of Idoma political history should be defined by unity, strategic planning, and collective action rather than internal rivalry and missed opportunities.