Ikwulono Rejects Alleged Agbaduma Endorsement of ADC Rival, Vows to Contest 2027 Agatu Assembly Election
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Agatu State Constituency in the 2027 Benue State House of Assembly election, Hon. John Anthony Ikwulono, has rejected a purported endorsement of his rival, Hon. Stephen Ojotu Odoje of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the sole candidate of the Agbaduma Clan.
Ikwulono, in a disclaimer issued on October 16 by the JAI BSHOA 2027 Media/Exco Team and Support Group, described the reported endorsement as misleading, insisting that no agreement was reached among the candidates to adopt a consensus candidate or for any of them to withdraw from the race.
The statement said the candidates were recently invited to Okokolo by the Och’Agbaduma, Chief Ezekiel Moses Iyachi, to deliberate on the possibility of supporting the most credible and popular candidate with the best chances of winning the election.
However, it maintained that the meeting ended without an agreement, adding that the candidates subsequently returned to their respective political parties and remained committed to their individual aspirations.
“An invitation to discuss the possibility of a consensus candidate should not be misconstrued as a concluded agreement to endorse any particular candidate,” the statement said.
It identified Ikwulono as the PDP candidate, Odoje as the ADC candidate and Hon. Abu Baba as the Labour Party candidate, stressing that Ikwulono had neither agreed to step down nor participated in any arrangement to endorse another candidate in his place.
The campaign team argued that the forthcoming general election was different from a party primary in which aspirants might negotiate a consensus, noting that the candidates belonged to different political parties with separate electoral platforms and ambitions.
It insisted that the electorate, rather than a small group of individuals, should determine who represents Agatu State Constituency through the ballot.
The statement also questioned the credibility and inclusiveness of the reported endorsement, alleging that the purported consensus initiative involved limited consultations and that representatives of the PDP and Labour Party were not adequately involved.
It further challenged claims that the ADC possessed the largest political structure in Agatu, arguing that such assertions should be supported by verifiable evidence of grassroots support rather than presented as established facts.
The campaign team also raised questions about the alleged role of Adams Ikwulono, a retired Director of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) and an in-law of Odoje, in efforts to promote the ADC candidate.
It alleged that personal interests and financial inducements might have influenced the purported endorsement. However, the statement did not provide independent evidence to substantiate the allegations.
The campaign team maintained that any decision to adopt a candidate should be based on objective considerations, including experience, competence, leadership ability, popularity and the capacity to effectively represent the interests of the people.
Highlighting Ikwulono’s political experience, the statement listed his previous positions as Benue State Director of Publicity, Supervisory Councillor for Finance and Appropriation in Agatu Local Government Council, Executive Vice Chairman of Agatu Local Government Council, and Media Aide to the Senate Minority Leader and senator representing Benue South Senatorial District.
It also credited him with contributions to development initiatives in the area, including efforts associated with classroom construction through the TY Danjuma Foundation and Victim Support Fund, the deployment of military personnel from the Tactical Air Command in Makurdi to Agatu to help address insecurity, the construction of culverts and the facilitation of relief materials, including building materials.
According to the campaign team, these experiences and interventions should form part of the basis for assessing his candidacy ahead of the 2027 election.
The statement further declared that Ikwulono would not accept financial inducements to withdraw from the contest and urged the public to disregard any purported agreement linking him to an endorsement of another candidate unless supported by credible evidence.
It called on political stakeholders to focus on issue-based campaigns, peaceful mobilisation and verifiable claims while allowing eligible voters to make their choice at the polls.
Expressing confidence in Ikwulono’s electoral prospects, the campaign team urged his supporters to intensify their mobilisation across the ten council wards in Agatu.
It concluded that the ultimate decision on representation belonged to the people of Agatu, urging them to rely on credible information and reject what it described as a fake endorsement.
