A reconciliation meeting convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume for Benue State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) factions descended into public discord Sunday, as Akume and Governor Hyacinth Alia offered starkly conflicting accounts of its outcome.
NewsQuest r ports that following President Bola Tinubu’s directive, SGF Akume gathered party stakeholders at the Government House in Makurdi, the State’s capital to resolve a three-year leadership rift that has fractured the State APC into rival camps, complete with parallel committees from ward to state levels.
The Governor has sparred with his political mentor SGF Akume over control of party structures.
Speaking to reporters after a closed-door meeting, Akume hailed the session as a breakthrough for “lasting peace.”
He said resolutions included automatic tickets for all current APC officeholders—from Governor Alia to State and National Assembly members—and noted the Governor’s apology for party infighting.
“Where we went wrong, we want to get back,” SGF Akume said.
“The Rev. Fr. [governor] said he was sorry… All those elected on the platform of the APC…must still come back. It’s automatic.”
Covernor Alia, however, swiftly rebutted the claim.
He acknowledged his apology as a “deliberate” step by a “responsible leader” to unify the party but insisted no automatic tickets were resolved.
“APC has told us plainly,” he said, citing President Tinubu and APC national chairman.
“President Tinubu has mentioned several times…there is no automatic ticket.”
The Benue Governor recast SGF Akume’s remarks as mere “prayer” and “appeal” for voters to re-elect incumbents, not a binding decision.
“The resolution is beyond both of us,” Governor Alia added.
NewsQuest reports that the impasse is indicative of the the deepening tensions in Benue, a northern state pivotal to President Tinubu’s ruling coalition, where the power struggle risks derailing the party’s 2027 ambitions.
