Deep fissures within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State erupted into open schism on Tuesday, as rival factions loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume staged competing state congresses.
Each of the rival factions has installed parallel executives.
Thousands of party loyalists rallied at Eunice Resort along Ankpa Road in Makurdi for the Akume-aligned faction, endorsing the return of Austin Agada’s state working committee in a non-elective congress.
The event drew heavyweight APC figures including Second Republic senator Jack Gyado, former health Minister Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, and incumbent senator Titus Zam.
Our correspondent gathered that an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observer was present.
Agada, in his acceptance speech, hailed supporters for delivering victory in 2022 when the APC toppled opposition rule in Benue.
“You stood by us through suffering to build this party,” he said, pledging unity under Akume’s leadership and vowing to secure re-election for President Bola Tinubu and “those on our side.” Senator Zam echoed the call, promising backing for President Tinubu and national assembly members, while remaining non-committal on the governor: “We are still consulting.”
In a direct counter-move, Governor Alia’s faction convened at IBB Square, electing Benjamin Omale as chairman. Omale promised “transparency, honesty and fairness,” loyalty to the APC, and a push for Tinubu and Alia’s re-election to “consolidate good works.”
Governor Alia addressed the crowd, praising the “peaceful, credible and transparent” process and urging members to demonstrate “who is truly in the party” for Benue’s growth.
He thanked Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima for national support, declaring: “A new Benue is possible. We will stand with the people and form a formidable APC.”
The parallel congresses is indicative of a bitter power struggle echoing factional wars in the ruling APC in the ‘Food Basket’ with Solomon Wombo, head of Governor Alia’s congress committee and a federal lawmaker, lauding prior ward and local government polls as “free and fair.”
The Independent National Electoral Coimmission (INEC), has yet to comment on the duelling claims to legitimacy- in clouding the earlier ward and local council congresses in the State, which resulted in factional results of wins.
