Benue APC Crisis: Factions Create Parallel Executives

The political landscape in Benue State is increasingly fractured as the All Progressives Congress (APC) experiences a significant crisis, marked by the emergence of parallel ward executives. This situation escalated following a ward congress held across the state, which was marred by disputes.

The rift began shortly after Governor Hyacinth Alia's inauguration in 2023, leading to a split within the party into two factions. One faction, led by Austin Agada and loyal to Georg Akum, announced the formation of parallel ward executives, reaffirming the tenure of existing executives.

Daniel Ihomun, the state public secretary for Agada's faction, commended Akum's leadership and emphasized their commitment to stability within the party. Conversely, loyalists of Governor Alia rejected these claims, insisting that the new executives were elected consensually during the congress.

Jame Ornguga, the state public secretary for the APC Caretaker Committee, supported the governor's position, asserting that the previous executives' tenure had expired.