Fresh tension as APC ignores court order, sacks Benue APC exco

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements

The crisis rocking the Benue chapter of the All Progressives Congress took another turn when the National Working Committee of the ruling party announced the dissolution of the Austine Agada-led executives on Wednesday.

In their place, the NWC immediately inaugurated a seven-man caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the party at the state level for six months.

The newly installed committee comprises Benjamin Omale and Prof Bem Angwe as chairman and secretary, respectively.

Other members include Richard Mzungweve, James Ornguga, Terhemen Ngbea, Helen Agaigbe, and Ali Francis Adah.

This change of leadership comes a few hours after a Benue High Court issued an order preventing the APC from removing Agada and the current executives of the party.

A copy of the ex parte order granted by Justice Theresa Igoche in Motion No MH /1585m/2024 barred the Dr Abdullahi Ganduje-led NWC from sacking the Austin Agada-led State Working Committee until the expiration of their four-year tenure.

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The Benue chapter of the APC has been in conflict with Governor Hyacinth Alia over the leadership of the party in the state.

While the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, supports the Agada-led state working committee, Alia has backed the Benjamin Omakolo-led faction.

Addressing journalists after the oath-taking ceremony of the caretaker committee, the National Chairman of the APC expressed regret about the situation, stating that the decision to dissolve the Benue APC was made to prevent the party from collapsing.

He said: "We are all aware of the issues we are facing in Benue State, such as factions, counter-factions, litigation, and counter-litigation. The National Working Committee will not allow this to continue. As a party and institution, we should be united. Therefore, to resolve the problem in line with our constitution, the NWC has today dissolved the executive committee of the Benue State chapter. At the same time, the NWC has approved a seven-man caretaker committee to manage the affairs of the party for the next six months."

Source: Legit.ng