Local government congresses of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue state are expected to proceed peacefully on Saturday, despite simmering factional rivalries over the party’s state leadership.
James Orguga, the party’s organising secretary in Benue, is working closely with state chairman Benjamin Omale to ensure the exercise runs smoothly, sources close to the leadership said.
A senior aide to Governor Hyacinth Alia, speaking anonymously, praised Omale’s efforts to build a robust party base. “We have over 380, 000 registered members ready to make a difference,” the aide noted.
“Governor Alia remains the people’s choice for a second term.”
According to the aide, Governor Alia and the people of Benue State are happy with President Bola Tinubu’s decision and the national secretariat of APC of handing over rightly the party’s structure to the Governor, and are ready to work even harder to deliver more votes to him in the 2027 presidential election.
Tensions have persisted since 2023 between supporters of Alia and those of George Akume, the secretary to the federal government, creating deep divisions in the party—known as Nigeria’s “food basket” for its agricultural output.
There is no dispute, however, over which body is overseeing the congresses.
Neither President Bola Tinubu nor APC national headquarters has issued a definitive statement on the rift. The party’s national secretariat has pledged a “hitch-free, peaceful and credible” process for its nationwide congresses, scheduled for 18 February at ward level, 21 February for local governments, and 3 March for state executives.
