The internal crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress in Benue State took a fresh turn on Tuesday as factions loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, held parallel state congresses and produced separate executive committees.
The development further exposed the deep rift within the party in the state, with both camps going ahead with their respective congresses despite earlier appeals for unity.
The faction aligned with the SGF gathered at Eunice Resort along Ankpa road in Makurdi, where they returned the Austin Agada-led state working committee in what they described as a non-elective congress.
The event witnessed a large turnout of supporters and was attended by prominent APC stakeholders, including Second Republic Senator Jack Gyado, former Minister of State for Health Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, and serving Senator Titus Zam.
A representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission was also on ground to monitor the exercise.
In his acceptance speech, Austin Agada thanked party members for the peaceful conduct of the congress and for renewing his mandate to lead the party. He recalled that when the executive was first elected in 2022, the APC was the opposition party in the state, but through collective effort, the party secured victory.
“In 2022, when you gave us the mandate to lead you, we assured you that the APC, which was then the opposition party, would be brought to power, which we did.
Throughout, you did not betray us despite your suffering to build this party, and now that you have renewed our tenure, we will not disappoint you. We will stand on the unity of the party as laid down by our leader, the SGF, and we will work hard to ensure the return of our president, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as those who are on our side”, Agada said.
Speaking earlier, Senator Titus Zam commended party members for their support and promised that the faction would work for the reelection of the president and members of the national assembly. Regarding the governor, Zam stated that consultations were still ongoing and that the people would be informed at the appropriate time.
Meanwhile, several kilometres away at IBB Square in Makurdi, the faction loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia held its own state congress, where Benjamin Omale emerged as the new chairman.
In his acceptance speech, Omale expressed gratitude to Benue APC members for electing him and his executive committee, pledging to discharge their duties with utmost transparency, honesty, and fairness. He reaffirmed loyalty to the APC and assured that the state chapter would work towards uniting all members to ensure a sense of belonging for everyone.
“We will ensure a united APC in which all members would feel a sense of belonging. He also assured that the APC in Benue would work towards the reelection of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia to consolidate on the good works they are doing”, Omale stated.
Governor Alia, who was present at the congress, described the exercise as peaceful, credible, and transparent. He urged the people to continue to show the truth of who they are and who is in the party to bring growth and development and prepare the future of the state.
The governor congratulated the newly elected officials, urging them to see their elections as a call to service and to do so with great honesty. He thanked them for accepting to serve the Benue APC and expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their unalloyed support for the APC nationwide, particularly in Benue State.
“With the good wishes of the people, a new Benue is possible,” Alia stated, pledging that Benue will continue to be a shining example of patriotic partisans. “We will continue to be transparent in whatever we are doing. We will continue to stand with the people of the state and form a formidable APC in the state.”
Earlier, the chairman of the Benue State APC Congress Planning Committee and member representing Ukum/Katsina-Ala/Logo Federal Constituency, Solomon Wombo, commended the state governor for organising free, fair, and credible ward and local government congresses, adding that the committee had put all modalities in place to produce credible party leadership in the state.
The parallel congresses have thrown the Benue APC into fresh turmoil, raising questions about which faction will be recognised by the national leadership of the party as the authentic state executive.
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