A renewed crisis appears to be brewing within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, as the fragile reconciliation between Governor Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, shows signs of breaking down.
Despite a high-level peace meeting held on Sunday, deep-seated disagreements persist, particularly over the contentious issue of automatic tickets for elected officials ahead of the next election cycle.
The crisis between Alia and Akume dates back to the aftermath of the 2023 general elections, when both leaders fell out over control of the party structure and political appointments in the state.
What began as a quiet disagreement soon escalated into a full-blown intra-party conflict, polarising the APC in Benue into two rival factions.
One faction, led by Austin Agada, remained loyal to Akume, while another group, under the leadership of then-state chairman Ben Omakolo, aligned with Governor Alia.
Tensions reached a boiling point in March 2026, when both factions conducted parallel congresses, each producing separate sets of party executives.
The Alia-backed faction insisted its congress followed due process and reflected the will of party members. However, the Akume-aligned group rejected the exercise and organised a separate congress, further deepening the leadership crisis.
In a decisive move, the national leadership of the APC eventually recognised the congress conducted by the Alia faction, which produced Ben Omale as chairman, effectively sidelining Agada and weakening Akume’s grip on the party structure in the state.
Concerned about the implications of the lingering crisis on the party’s electoral prospects, President Bola Tinubu intervened, urging both leaders to reconcile and work together ahead of future elections.
At the centre of the renewed tension is a proposal put forward by Akume for the adoption of automatic tickets for Governor Alia and other elected APC officials in the state, including members of the National and State Assemblies.
while Akume argued that automatic tickets would ensure continuity and reward for loyalty, the proposal was firmly rejected by the governor.
Alia reportedly insisted that all aspirants must go through a transparent primary process, warning that any attempt to impose candidates could trigger another internal crisis.
According to an insider: “While he agreed on other terms, the issue of automatic tickets was outrightly turned down. He is not ready to gamble with the structure of the party. He also does not want a situation where members of the National Assembly loyal to Akume return unchallenged.”
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Governor Alia made his position unequivocally clear, dismissing the idea of automatic tickets.
He said: “Because the APC has made it very clear, Mr. President has stated this several times and the National Chairman of the APC also emphasized at the time that there is no automatic ticket.
“I believe this is merely a request, not a resolution. It is a prayer directed to the people of the state, urging them to reflect deeply and consider how they can support those currently serving.
“This is not an official position of either the national party or the federal government. As I understand it, this was a reconciliatory meeting. He has the right to make such appeals and offer prayers. It is essentially an appeal to the entire citizenry to see whether they can bring these individuals back. However, I think that approach is misguided.”
With competing interests, unresolved grievances and the battle for control still lingering beneath the surface, the party may be heading toward another round of internal conflict, just as preparations for the 2027 election cycle begin to gather momentum.
