Benue APC rejects Tinubu re-election alliance involving Akume, alleges plot against Alia
The All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council in Benue has rejected a ‘strategic alliance’ formed to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, alleging that it is designed to sabotage the second-term ambition of Hyacinth Alia, governor of the state.
Richard Asema, director-general of the Tinubu/Alia 2027 campaign council in Benue, spoke on Friday at a press conference in Makurdi, the state capital.
The alliance, tagged ‘Strategic Alliance for Tinubu/Shettima Re-election 2027’, reportedly comprises senior APC members, including George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), and Joseph Utsev, minister of water resources and sanitation.
Asema said the group also includes governorship candidates of opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), as well as officials of other minority parties.
He described the alliance and its campaign council as detrimental to the APC’s electoral fortunes in Benue, alleging that its members were using support for Tinubu’s re-election as a cover to undermine Alia’s chances in 2027.
“From all credible intelligence available to the party, this strategic alliance has a hidden agenda, which is to sabotage the election of His Excellency, Rev Fr Hyacinth Iormem Alia in the 2027 elections, while masquerading as supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Asema said the APC in Benue had already constituted a campaign council comprising more than 900 party leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said several members of the alliance were appointed to the council, which was inaugurated at IBB Square in Makurdi on November 5, but later announced that they would not participate in its activities.
The campaign council DG expressed regret that some APC members had allowed themselves to be used for what he described as a “political gimmick” and an “act of political mischief”.
He maintained that the APC remained firmly established in Benue, citing its performance in the 2023 elections and its current representation in elective offices across the state.
According to him, the party won the governorship election in 2023, secured two of the state’s three senatorial seats and delivered Tinubu as president.
He added that the APC currently controls 27 of the 32 seats in the Benue State House of Assembly, 10 of the 11 federal constituencies, 23 local government chairmanship positions and all 276 elected councillorship seats in the state.
Asema also attributed Alia’s popularity to what he described as the governor’s achievements in infrastructure, industrial development and education.
He listed the employment of 9,700 teachers, construction of classrooms, establishment of medium- and large-scale industries, and payment of salaries and pensions, including the clearance of outstanding arrears, among the administration’s accomplishments.
He said the APC did not need any alliance to win the 2027 elections, warning against attempts to confuse party members and residents of the state.
Asema urged APC members involved in the alliance to withdraw from it and return to the party’s mainstream leadership under Alia.
He also assured Tinubu and Alia of the party’s support ahead of the 2027 elections.
