Akume, NASS Members, APC Chieftains Shun Alia Campaign Flag Off
By Aloysius Chiahemba, Makurdi
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, serving members of the National Assembly from Benue State and the Akume-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday shunned the campaign flag-off of Governor Hyacinth Alia in Makurdi.
The event, held at IBB Square, witnessed the absence of several prominent APC leaders and elected representatives, while attendance was largely dominated by supporters believed to be loyal to the governor.
Among those conspicuously absent were serving senators Emmanuel Udende, representing Benue North-East, and Titus Zam of Benue North-West, as well as members of the House of Representatives, including Dickson Tarkighir, Sekav Iortyom, Regina Akume, Asema Achado, Terseer Ugbor, Sesoo Ikpagher and Philip Agbese.
The development further highlights the lingering divisions within the Benue APC following the emergence of Governor Alia's campaign council.
Recall that shortly after the composition of the council, the faction of the party led by Comrade Austin Agada issued a statement directing its members nominated into the council to decline their appointments.
On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the faction reportedly reinforced its position by urging members not to participate in the inauguration of the Alia-led campaign council.
The absence of key party stakeholders at Thursday's flag-off has therefore raised fresh questions about the level of cohesion within the APC in Benue State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the event, Governor Alia expressed satisfaction with the level of voter registration in the state, noting that Benue had ranked eighth nationally in the exercise.
He urged residents, particularly APC members, to support President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027, assuring them that their votes would count.
The governor also appealed to aggrieved party members to put aside their differences, forgive one another and work towards strengthening the party.
"Let us continue to work in synergy. If, by any chance, you have bitterness in your heart, this is the time to let bitterness go and allow sweetness to come in," he said.
Alia urged those who were not nominated as candidates during the party's selection process not to lose hope, stressing that political opportunities would come again.
He attributed his administration's achievements to the leadership of the APC and President Tinubu, whom he credited with supporting Benue's development.
The governor further claimed that the security situation in the state had improved significantly since his assumption of office in 2023, noting that 17 local government areas were then on the frontline of insecurity.
He said the situation had improved to the extent that residents were gradually returning to their communities and farms.
Alia commended the President for interventions in the state and called on the electorate to support both of them for another term in 2027.
Meanwhile, an APC elder statesman, Engineer Barnabas Gemade, who spoke on behalf of the party's Elders Forum, criticised the proposed Rainbow Coalition, describing it as confusing and lacking a clearly defined political direction.
Gemade declared that the coalition would not be allowed to gain ground in Benue, insisting that the 2027 political contest should be centred on the re-election of Governor Alia, President Tinubu and other APC candidates duly nominated through the party's primaries.
He appealed to members associated with the coalition to abandon the initiative and return to the mainstream APC, where, according to him, their contributions and membership would be recognised.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the campaign council, Richard Asema, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in the team and pledged to conduct an issue-based campaign devoid of acrimony, hate speech, blackmail and character assassination.
He expressed confidence that the campaign organisation would deliver victories for APC candidates across all elective positions, from the bottom to the top.
Asema also acknowledged that nobody had a monopoly of political knowledge, assuring the governor that consultations and collective contributions would guide the campaign's activities.
Similarly, retired General Lawrence Onoja defended Alia's eligibility for a second term, arguing that the governor had the constitutional right to seek re-election.
He criticised those campaigning for the governor's removal, particularly former governors, arguing that their eight years in office should be compared with Alia's performance within three and a half years.
Onoja described the governor as a politically saleable candidate, citing projects executed across the three senatorial districts of the state, particularly Zone C.
He expressed confidence in the governor's political fortunes, claiming that he had secured the support of voters in Zone C and was prepared to deliver their votes to Alia in 2027.
