Benue APC splits as Alia, Akume factions announce separate executives

Parallel ward congresses organised by rival factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State have ended with both camps announcing separate ward executives across the 23 local government areas.

The exercise, held on Wednesday, reflected the deepening divide between supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia and loyalists of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

The faction aligned with Akume, operating under the leadership of Comrade Austin Agada, declared that existing ward executives were reaffirmed for another four-year term. The group’s Publicity Secretary, Daniel Ihomun, described the congress as peaceful and conducted in line with directives from the party’s national secretariat. He congratulated the reaffirmed executives and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by party members.

In contrast, the faction loyal to Governor Alia, led by Chief Benjamin Omale, announced the emergence of new ward executives through a consensus arrangement.

Spokesperson of the caretaker committee aligned with the governor, James Ornguga, argued that the tenure of previous ward, local government and state executives had expired, making fresh elections necessary. He dismissed claims of reaffirmation, insisting that no guideline permitted the automatic return of former executives. According to him, ward executives’ tenure ended in July 2025, local government executives in September 2025, and state executives on February 8, 2026, rendering new elections inevitable.

Both factions maintained that their respective processes complied with party guidelines, leaving the Benue APC chapter with parallel grassroots structures following the ward congresses.

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