Benue APC Crisis: Dissolved Faction Defies Orders, Announces Candidates

The crisis within the Benue chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensified on Monday following the announcement by the dissolved Austin Agada-led faction of the party that it had nominated 23 chairmanship and 276 councillorship candidates for the upcoming local government elections on October 5.

The nominations were made after a primary election conducted across all wards in the state’s 23 local government areas on Saturday.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that this development came just five days after the aggrieved former executive members, who were dismissed by APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, filed a lawsuit against him for disregarding a court order that barred the National Working Committee (NWC) from making changes.

A Benue High Court had previously issued an ex parte order, granted by Justice Theresa Igoche in motion No MH /1585m/2024, which prohibited the Ganduje-led NWC from removing Agada and his team until their four-year term ended.

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The Benue APC has been in conflict with Governor Hyacinth Alia over the party’s leadership. While Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, supports the Agada-led faction, Governor Alia backs the Benjamin Omakolo-led group.

Despite the court order, the APC announced the dissolution of the Agada-led executive on Wednesday and installed a seven-man caretaker committee to oversee the party’s affairs for six months. The Agada faction has vowed to defy this move.

In a statement released in Abuja on Monday, Austin Agada reported that the primary election was conducted smoothly through consensus and affirmations. Lazarus Asema, APC Chairman of Guma Local Government, praised the peaceful nature of the process and commended the state’s leadership for effective organization.

The primary exercise produced the following chairmanship candidates: Elias Ogbu (Ado), Tarkaa Solomon (Konshisha), Chia Terna (Vandeikya,) Atom Phillip (Kwande), Andrew Ocheme (Ogbadibo), Ogbole Mathew (Obi), Napoleon Otache (Agatu), Elias Ogbu (Ado), Eje Elvis (Apa), Washima Haris (Katsina-Ala), Ajeh Ogah (Ohimini) and Akombo Stephen (Logo).

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Others include Terver Agwaza (Ukum), Benjamin Atoza (Gwer), Denise China (Gwer West), Vincent Apera (Guma), James Agudu (Buruku), Tyopaase Benjamin (Ushongo), Mrs Ene Ameh (Okpokwu), Jonathan Shimgbe (Makurdi) and Jackson Udama (Oju).

In Katsina-Ala, Simon Aluor praised the APC for its orderly and peaceful conduct, while in Otukpo, party members showed strong support for their chairmanship candidate, Oleho Augustine.

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