Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has sealed the secretariat of an All Progressives Congress (APC) faction loyal to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, intensifying the ongoing party crisis. Alia asserted his authority as the state’s APC leader, declaring that no meetings can occur without his approval.
The move blocked a scheduled meeting by the Akume faction, further escalating tensions. The faction’s spokesperson, Daniel Ihomun, accused the governor of using “miscreants” to disrupt their activities, worsening the internal conflict.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, Alia declared that no APC meeting can be held without his knowledge, emphasizing his position as the party’s leader in the state.
“The last time I checked, I am still the APC leader in the state. No APC meeting can be summoned without my knowledge,” Alia said.
Alia also warned that there will be consequences if any person or group attempts to disrupt the peace of the state by converging for any unauthorized meeting.
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“Not just that, as the Chief Security Officer in the state, I should know when a legitimate gathering is supposed to be held. Nigeria is not a lawless state and so is Benue state. Those who think they can undermine the authority of the state must know this and know peace,” he added.
The Akume faction, led by Austin Agada, had scheduled a State Executive Committee meeting for Thursday, but Alia’s action effectively halted the meeting. The two factions have been engaged in a running show of force over the control of the Benue APC, with Agada leading the Akume faction and Benjamin Omakolo serving as the acting chairman of the Alia faction.
In response to Alia’s move, the state Publicity Secretary of Agada-led exco, Daniel Ihomun, accused the governor of hounding the Akume loyalists by sending “miscreants” to loot their secretariat. “The governor has sealed up the secretariat and some miscreants were sent and looted the secretariat,” Ihomun said.
The crisis in the Benue APC continues to escalate, with both factions refusing to back down. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the party’s leadership will address the internal conflicts and ensure a unified front moving forward.