Ganduje dissolves Benue APC exco as Alia, Akume feud deepens

The crisis rocking the Benue chapter of the All Progressives Congress took another dimension on Wednesday as the National Working Committee of the party announced the dissolution of the Austine Agada-led executives, loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

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

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

The committee members are Richard Mzungweve, James Ornguga, Terhemen Ngbea, Helen Agaigbe and Ali Fr”ancis Adah.

The change of guard comes a few hours after a Benue High Court in Markurdi ordered the APC not to remove Agada, a loyalist of the SGF, Akume, and the current executives of the party.

A copy of the ex parte order granted by Justice Theresa Igoche in a motion marked MH /1585m/2024 stopped the Dr Abdullahi Ganduje-led NWC from sacking the Agada-led State Working Committee until the expiration of their four-year tenure.

The Benue chapter of the APC has been in crisis with Governor Hyacinth Alia and Akume, fighting for control.

While Agada leads the Akume’s faction of the party, Benjamin Omakolo was the acting chairman of the Alia faction.

Last week, Alia allegedly sealed the secretariat of the party’s faction loyal to Akume, stopping the faction’s scheduled meeting.

Addressing newsmen after the oath-taking ceremony of the caretaker committee, the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, expressed regret about the development, saying the decision to dissolve the Benue APC was taken to salvage the party from total collapse.

He said, “Today, history has been made. But it is not the history we are proud of. However, it is an issue that we need to take immediate action in accordance with our constitution. It is our belief that our state chapter will work towards the development of the party without any problem. But since things didn’t go according to plan, even in organisations, you are bound to see problems here and there.

“We are all aware of the problems we are having in Benue State, such as faction, counter-faction, litigation and counter-litigation. This, the National Working Committee, will not allow to continue. As a party and institution, we are supposed to be united. So to solve 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 run the affairs of the party for the next six months.

“Also, since we are going for local government election and the party is the only organ that can certify the candidature of any contestant, we have shared the responsibility of conducting the primaries for those who intend to become chairmen and councillors of their local government areas.”

While congratulating the caretaker committee members on their appointment, Ganduje urged the committee to “unite and continue the dialogue with major stakeholders so that we bring everybody to work together.”

Appreciating the party leadership for considering them worthy for the smooth running of Benue party affairs, Omale promised to work for the unity and reconciliation of all the aggrieved members in the state.

He said, “As you all know, we are just taking over. We are here to do the mandate of the President and the governor. I want to assure you that the mandate you have given will bring the needed peace and reconciliation we crave in the state.

“We will do our best to unite our people. We are just here to brief you that we will be working together as a team.”