Benue APC peace talks stall as Alia and Akume camps hold firm on chairmanship
- A reconciliation meeting by the APC national secretariat ended without agreement between camps loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia and SGF George Akume.
- Both sides claim the state chairmanship, with Alia backing Benjamin Omale and Akume insisting Austin Agada remains chairman.
- Party sources say the national leadership may impose a caretaker committee if no deal is reached soon.
Efforts to settle the leadership crisis in the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have stalled after a reconciliation meeting ended without agreement, according to party sources quoted by BusinessDay and Daily Post.
The meeting was arranged by the APC national secretariat as part of a wider push to resolve internal disputes across the country. It ended in a deadlock, with neither camp willing to give ground on who leads the party in the state.
Governor Hyacinth Alia's camp recognises Benjamin Omale as state chairman. The camp loyal to George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), insists Austin Agada remains chairman, based on the 2022 congress that produced him.
The dispute has already produced parallel party secretariats in Makurdi and a series of suspensions and counter-suspensions.
What each side is saying
A party source told BusinessDay that the national delegation met both sides separately. "The issue is beyond chairmanship; it is about control of the party structure ahead of 2027," the source said, adding that neither Alia nor Akume is willing to concede.
Benedict Yawe, publicity secretary of the Omale-led faction, said his group remains open to peace. He said reconciliation is "not only possible, it is necessary" for the party's success in Benue, and that the doors of his camp remain open to dialogue.
Morgan Ihomun, publicity secretary of the Agada-led faction, rejected any suggestion that his side blocked peace. He accused the governor of refusing to genuinely reconcile despite the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, and said Alia has not met with APC members of the National Assembly from the state since taking office.
Ihomun said his camp remains loyal to Tinubu and is working for his re-election in 2027.
Why it matters
Benue is a strategic state in the North-Central. Analysts warn that a divided ruling party could weaken its chances in 2027, especially with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties looking to benefit.
Party insiders say the national leadership is worried the parallel structures could cause confusion among members and keep voters away. They say a political solution or a caretaker committee may be imposed if the two camps fail to agree on a harmonised structure in the coming weeks.
For now, both factions are operating separately and issuing their own statements, while the 2027 general elections draw closer.
