The African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate for Benue State, Herman Hembe, has expressed strong disapproval over the exclusion of the Tiv ethnic group from the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council for the upcoming 2027 elections. Hembe's remarks follow the APC's recent announcement of its campaign council members, which revealed that only three individuals from Benue State were included, all of whom belong to the Idoma ethnic group.

In a statement released by the Hembe/Abba Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, Hembe described the omission as a deliberate political maneuver aimed at sidelining the Tiv people. The statement emphasized that this exclusion is not an oversight but rather a calculated decision that sends a negative message to the Tiv community. “The recent release of the presidential campaign council list by the Tinubu APC has exposed a deliberate and calculated exclusion of the Tiv people from national reckoning,” the statement read.

Hembe highlighted the significant contributions of the Tiv people to Nigeria's unity and development, arguing that they should not be treated as an afterthought in political considerations. He asserted, “We are the fourth-largest tribe in Nigeria. We have shed blood for the unity of this country. We are, and have always been, a beautiful tribe that deserves to be courted diligently, not a bystander invited only when convenient.”

The ADC candidate urged the Tiv people to reflect on their political representation and questioned whether they could expect fair treatment in government if President Bola Tinubu secures victory in the 2027 elections. Hembe reiterated his commitment to the welfare and political interests of the people of Benue, stressing that fair representation should be a priority in political loyalty and electoral support.

In a related development, the APC's Benue State chapter has also voiced concerns regarding the exclusion of the Tiv ethnic group from the campaign council. Daniel Ihomun, the state publicity secretary of the Agada-led faction loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, expressed dissatisfaction with the list, noting that it predominantly features Muslim members from the North-Central region. Ihomun stated, “We, the party in the state, are not happy with the list released in the President Bola Tinubu Campaign Council because Tiv people are excluded from the list. There are so many Muslims on the list, especially in North-Central.”

He further lamented that the Tiv community, which played a crucial role in supporting Tinubu's victory in the 2023 elections, feels neglected. Ihomun remarked, “With the Tiv population in Nigeria, you cannot neglect us like that. We contributed to Tinubu’s victory in 2023; it’s like we have been neglected.”

Hembe took the opportunity to encourage the people of Benue to consider supporting the ADC, asserting that the party's presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is well-acquainted with the concerns of the Tiv people. He claimed that an Atiku/Amaechi administration would restore the Tiv and Benue people to their rightful place in Nigeria’s political landscape, promising better plans for improving the lives of Nigerians.