APA/AGATU 2027: Agatu Stakeholders Call For Suspension of Political Sponsored Endorsements Amid Insecurity
APA/AGATU 2027: Agatu Stakeholders Call For Suspension of Political Sponsored Endorsements Amid Insecurity
Dailywire, Otukpo, May 31, 2025
As communities in Agatu Local Government Area continue to reel from violent attacks, displacement, and mounting insecurity, stakeholders have raised alarm over what they describe as “irresponsible and politically motivated endorsements” taking place while the people suffer.
At a well-attended meeting held at Xclusive Wine Bar, Otukpo, key stakeholders from Agatu—comprising youth leaders, women groups, and community advocates—issued a strongly worded communiqué, condemning the recent wave of political endorsements being orchestrated within the local government despite the unresolved crisis plaguing the area.
While the communiqué avoided naming individuals, the tone and timing appeared to subtly criticize a recent high-profile endorsement of a federal legislator from the Agatu axis of the Federal Constituency. Observers note that the said endorsement, widely publicized across traditional and digital platforms, was facilitated amid ongoing attacks and displacement in various Agatu communities.
The stakeholders described such actions as “insensitive, divisive, and disconnected from the immediate realities faced by the people,” emphasizing that political grandstanding should take a back seat to more pressing matters of security, relief, and rehabilitation.
“It is deeply troubling that while our people are being killed, displaced, and traumatized, certain political actors are more concerned with securing endorsements and promoting political ambitions,” the communiqué stated.
Calling on the Federal and Benue State Governments, as well as security agencies and humanitarian organizations, the stakeholders demanded:
Immediate deployment of adequate security personnel to vulnerable communities across Agatu.
Restoration of peace to enable the safe return of displaced persons.
A community-driven conflict resolution framework that ensures lasting peace.
They further called for a total suspension of all political endorsements and campaign-related activities in Agatu until normalcy returns, urging all aspirants and political groups to redirect their focus towards supporting victims and rebuilding destroyed livelihoods.
“The mood of our people is not for celebration or political mobilisation—it is one of grief, uncertainty, and survival,” one of the speakers noted during the deliberations.
The communiqué also warned that continuing political activity under the current climate risks deepening community tensions and eroding the already fragile trust among stakeholders.
This latest development hints at rising discomfort within Agatu and the wider Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency regarding what many see as premature and opportunistic politicking, especially by some entrenched political interests. It marks the beginning of what could become a larger political storm should endorsements and political maneuverings continue to disregard the pain and plight of the people.
