Internal Strife Hits Benue APC as Governor’s Allies Clash With Party Leadership

• APC crisis in Benue deepens over Senate’s decision on local government funds, leading to tensions and calls for leadership resignations
• Supporters of Governor Alia clash with party leadership, accused of planning protest against President Tinubu; elders call for internal resolution

A brewing crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State escalated on Monday, revealing deep-seated conflicts between the party’s leadership and supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

Despite previous denials of discord, tensions erupted over the Senate’s decision to withhold local government allocations, laying bare grievances between the factions. Governor Alia’s aide, Youth Mobilisation and Empowerment, Mkeenem Moses, called for the resignation of APC State Chairman Austin Agada after local party chairmen distanced themselves from the governor’s appointment of caretaker chairmen.

This development sparked a war of words between the party leadership, allegedly aligned with Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume, and Governor Alia’s supporters. In response, the APC accused some Benue State government officials of plotting a protest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Daniel Ihomun, stated that the planned protest aimed to discourage Tinubu from implementing the Senate’s resolution on local government funds. Ihomun viewed this as a grave danger to the state’s unity, emphasizing the undermining of key figures in an open protest by those claiming APC membership.

Meanwhile, party elders issued a communique urging the warring factions to cease hostilities for the sake of peace. At a stakeholders meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi, former Senate President Ameh Ebute, flanked by Senator Barnabas Gemade and Major General Lawrence Onoja (rtd), implored concerned party members to avoid further public conflicts.

The elders requested the party chairmen and state executive committee to refrain from further actions, allowing elders and major stakeholders to intervene and resolve the internal issues. They expressed disapproval of the local government party chairmen and executive committee’s resort to unnecessary media outings, advising the governor to stay focused on state development amid distractions.

The unfolding internal strife highlights the Benue APC’s challenges, with calls for internal resolution to maintain unity and political strength.