A fresh crisis has erupted in the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the conduct of parallel state congresses by two rival factions, each producing different chairmen.
The development has deepened internal divisions within the ruling party in the state, with both camps laying claim to legitimacy.
At a congress reportedly aligned with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, Mr. Austin Agada emerged as state chairman.
However, a rival faction loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia conducted a separate exercise in Makurdi, where Benjamin Omale was elected chairman.
Both congresses were held in Makurdi, the state capital, with each faction insisting it followed due process and enjoyed the backing of party stakeholders.
Agada was returned as chairman during a congress said to have been attended by party stakeholders from all 23 local government areas of the state.
The faction maintained that the exercise reflected the will of party members and complied with laid-down procedures.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were reportedly present at the Agada-led congress, alongside security operatives who monitored the proceedings.
In his acceptance speech, Agada thanked party members for renewing his mandate, recalling the party’s journey from opposition to winning power in the state.
“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,” he said.
He pledged not to disappoint party faithful, commending members for their loyalty and sacrifices in building the party.
Meanwhile, the Omale-led faction, believed to be loyal to Governor Alia, insists its congress was valid. However, details regarding INEC’s presence at the parallel exercise were not immediately clear.
The emergence of two chairmen underscores what observers describe as a power struggle between loyalists of the SGF and supporters of the governor.
The crisis comes at a critical time for the APC in Benue, with analysts warning that unresolved factional disputes could weaken party cohesion ahead of future elections.
As of press time, the national leadership of the APC had yet to issue an official statement clarifying which faction would be recognised.
Political observers say the matter may ultimately require intervention by the party’s National Executive Committee or even judicial arbitration if reconciliation efforts fail.
For now, both factions remain resolute, each claiming the backing of party structures within the state.
Unless urgently resolved, the dispute threatens to further entrench divisions within the Benue APC and reshape its political trajectory in the months ahead.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
