The ADC’s senatorial candidate for Benue South, Dr David Adejo Abraham Olofu, has promised to turn the district’s farmland into jobs and open his work to public scrutiny.
He spoke at the flag-off of the party’s zonal campaign in Oju Local Government Area. There, the former Benue State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning unveiled a 12-point agenda built on People, Power, Prosperity and Progress.
Supporters, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and women and youth groups were present. Olofu told them the 2027 election is a chance to demand representation that can be measured.
At the heart of his plan is a Special Purpose Agricultural Zone along the River Benue. It would combine land development, produce aggregation centres, warehouses, guaranteed off-take arrangements and agro-processing clusters.
Olofu said the aim is to lift farmers out of subsistence production and into stable, better-paid work. He promised easier access to finance for small businesses, stronger cooperatives and links to bigger markets.
To get produce to buyers, he said, the district needs rural roads connecting farms to markets and communities to clinics. He also proposed solar-powered agro-processing centres, industrial layouts and renewable energy projects.
For young people, he proposed ICT hubs and digital skills centres. In schools, he pledged to promote STEAM subjects, build science laboratories and public libraries, and widen scholarships, bursaries and mentorship.
On health, he promised to help rehabilitate primary healthcare centres, improve staffing and preventive care, and extend insurance to poor households.
None of this can take root without peace, Olofu argued. He called for closer cooperation among security agencies, traditional institutions and lawful vigilante groups.
He also proposed community peacebuilding, early-warning systems, alternative dispute resolution and technology-driven surveillance. “Security is the foundation of all development,” he said.
To show he is already investing in the district, he cited about ₦50 million in personal interventions.
More than 300 students from the nine local government areas have received ₦100,000 each a year since 2024 under the Apa Legacy Sustainability Initiative, backed by ₦30 million over three years.
In November 2025, he gave ₦10 million to St. Helen’s Specialist Hospital, Otukpo, toward the medical bills of pregnant women, regardless of religion, politics or ethnicity.
His Wealth and Empowerment in Benue South (WEBS) initiative commits ₦10 million a year for five years to ₦200,000 grants. These go mainly to rural women, widows and small-scale entrepreneurs.
He added that more than 200 constituents reportedly received credit support to buy 50 units each of Dangote Refinery shares.
Olofu said he would carry that spirit of accountability to the Senate. He proposed a Benue South People’s Assembly and a Benue South People’s Council.
The non-partisan bodies would gather community needs, monitor projects and bring in traditional rulers, professionals, women, youths and religious groups.
He also promised regular consultations and public reports on his legislative work. “Representation is service, not ownership,” he said.
He argued that his record equips him to deliver. He was commissioner from 2015 to 2023, chaired the Forum of State Commissioners for Finance, and served as Senior Technical Adviser on Fiscal Policy to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
That experience, he said, will help him attract projects and track their delivery.
Explaining his move to the ADC, he said a change of party means little without competent leadership and results. He urged unity among the nine local government areas.
Party leaders echoed his message. Campaign Advisory Council Chairman John Ngbede praised the turnout and called Olofu an experienced public administrator.
ADC State Chairman Chief Samson Okwu urged supporters to mobilise for the party’s candidates across the state.
Governorship candidate Hon. Heman Hembe went further. He told voters to reject the ruling APC for worsening economic hardship.
He also criticised Governor Hyacinth Alia over what he called inadequate development despite large Federation Account allocations.
Campaign Director-General Chief Chris Adaba Abah closed on a question of fairness within the district.
He said one federal constituency has held the Senate seat for more than three decades. He argued that every part of Benue South deserves a chance to produce a senator.