Governor Hyacinth Alia’s loyalists in Benue State have established a new executive to lead a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In Benue, the APC has been grappling with internal strife, with factions reportedly led by Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and Governor Hyacinth Alia. This has led to the existence of separate party offices in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
To address the deadlock, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party instructed both factions to drop all legal actions within a week for reconciliation.
The faction under Comrade Austin Agada adhered to the directive by withdrawing its sole lawsuit before High Court 4 in Makurdi, which was subsequently dismissed by Justice T.A. Kume.
On the contrary, the faction led by Comrade Benjamin Omakolo proceeded to inaugurate new executives at the party’s secretariat near the Government House in Makurdi.
Representing Governor Hyacinth Alia at the event, Paul Biam, the Chief of Staff, hailed the occasion as a pivotal moment in the state’s political landscape, emphasizing unity within the party.
According to Biam, “Today marks our emancipation. We shall overcome; fear not. The journey may be arduous, but stand your ground.
“Two heads cannot lead in one state. We recognize only one party leader, who is the governor.
“Omakolo’s leadership is here to stay. Let us acknowledge that what was previously done discreetly has now come to fruition.
“We have pledged to uphold the supremacy of the party and will ensure the APC thrives in the state,” asserted Biam.
He further mentioned that six members of the National Assembly endorsed this action and assured that the governor fully supports the new executives.
Philip Achuah, the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state and the acting chairman of Konshisha Local Government Area, affirmed the council chairpersons’ allegiance to the Omakolo-led executives, underscoring their dedication to the APC and the state’s progression.