The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State is grappling with one of its most severe internal crises in recent years following the conduct of parallel ward congresses by rival factions loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
The separate exercises, held across the state’s 23 local government areas, produced two distinct sets of ward executives entrenching a divide that observers warn could destabilize the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Two Congresses, Two Structures
The Akume-aligned camp, led by Comrade Austin Agada, announced the reaffirmation of existing ward executives for another four-year tenure. State Publicity Secretary Daniel Ihomun described the process as peaceful and in compliance with directives from the party’s national secretariat.
In contrast, the Alia-backed faction under Benjamin Omale declared that new ward executives emerged through what it termed a consensus-based electoral process.
State Organising Secretary of the Alia camp, James Ornguga, rejected claims of automatic reaffirmation, arguing that party rules do not permit incumbents to continue without fresh elections.
He noted that ward executives’ tenure ended in July 2025, local government executives in September 2025, and state executives on February 8, 2026.
Both factions insist their actions align with APC guidelines, effectively leaving the Benue chapter operating under dual grassroots structures.
Political observers caution that the parallel congresses could complicate delegate selection, fuel confusion among members, and weaken the party’s mobilization machinery.
A Makurdi-based analyst, Terna Ihom, said the exercises have formalized the split within the party.
“Each faction now controls its own machinery, and this could influence candidate selection and electoral outcomes for 2027. Reconciliation will require intervention at the national level,” he said.
The crisis traces back to early disagreements in Governor Alia’s administration, particularly over key appointments. Reports indicate that Akume recommended Engr. Nick Wende for Secretary to the State Government, but the governor appointed Professor Joseph Alkali instead.
Tensions later escalated over leadership in the State House of Assembly, removal of Agada from the party secretariat, suspension of 13 lawmakers aligned with Akume, and restrictions on certain political activities.
Although the Akume faction reportedly secured favorable court rulings, it has struggled to regain access to the party secretariat, prompting it to organize separate congresses.
Suswam’s Defection Shifts Dynamics
The political equation shifted further with the recent defection of former Governor Gabriel Suswam to the APC. Suswam is believed to have aligned with Governor Alia, bolstering the governor’s influence within the party.
While the Alia camp claimed oversight by national committees from Abuja, the Akume faction maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored its congresses.
An INEC official, however, clarified that the commission only monitors committees recognized by the party’s national secretariat and does not intervene in internal factional disputes.
Conflicting Claims of Legitimacy
APC chieftain and 2023 senatorial candidate Dan Onjeh dismissed reports of parallel congresses, insisting that the Omale-led structure remains the only recognized authority under the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
Conversely, Ihomun of the Agada faction admitted that a parallel exercise occurred but described it as null and void, maintaining that the reaffirmation process represented the legitimate congress.
At the ward level, some members reported peaceful exercises without factional tensions, underscoring the uneven nature of the crisis across the state.
With both camps firmly entrenched and competing claims of legitimacy unresolved, the Benue APC faces a critical test of unity.
Party stakeholders now look to the national leadership to either harmonize the outcomes or formally recognize one structure. Until then, the APC in Benue remains sharply divided a development that could shape its political fortunes in 2027.
