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 stayed away from the campaign flag-off of Governor Hyacinth Alia in Makurdi, further exposing the lingering divisions within the ruling party in the state.
The campaign flag-off, held at IBB Square, Makurdi, witnessed the absence of several prominent APC leaders and elected representatives, while attendance was largely dominated by supporters believed to be loyal to Governor Alia.
Among those conspicuously absent were Senators Emmanuel Udende, representing Benue North-East, and Titus Zam of Benue North-West.
Also absent were members of the House of Representatives, including Dickson Tarkighir, Sekav Iortyom, Regina Akume, Asema Achado, Terseer Ugbor, Sesoo Ikpagher and Philip Agbese.
The development has further highlighted the deepening 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 consequently raised fresh questions about the level of unity and 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 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 collectively 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 further urged those who were not nominated as candidates during the party’s selection process not to lose hope, stressing that other political opportunities would come in the future.
Attributing his administration’s achievements to the leadership of the APC and the support of President Tinubu, the governor commended the President for his interventions in Benue State.
On security, Alia claimed that the situation had improved significantly since he assumed office in 2023, recalling that 17 local government areas were then on the frontline of insecurity.
According to him, the improvement has encouraged residents to gradually return to their ancestral communities and farms.
He consequently called on the electorate to support both his administration and President Tinubu for another term in 2027.
Meanwhile, 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 State, insisting that the 2027 political contest should focus 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 membership and contributions would be recognised.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the campaign council, Richard Asema, thanked Governor Alia for the confidence reposed in the team and pledged to conduct an issue-based campaign devoid of acrimony, hate speech, blackmail and character assassination.
Asema expressed confidence that the campaign organisation would deliver victories for APC candidates across all elective positions, from the bottom to the top.
He 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 Governor Alia’s eligibility to seek a second term, arguing that the governor had a constitutional right to pursue re-election.
Onoja criticised those campaigning for Alia’s removal, particularly former governors, arguing that their eight years in office should be compared with the governor’s performance within three and a half years.
Describing Alia as a politically saleable candidate, he cited projects executed across the three senatorial districts of the state, with particular emphasis on Zone C.
Onoja expressed confidence in the governor’s political fortunes, claiming that Alia had secured the support of voters in Zone C and that he was prepared to deliver their votes to the governor in the 2027 general elections.
The development comes amid growing political realignments within the Benue APC, with Thursday’s campaign flag-off exposing the challenge facing the party in presenting a united front ahead of the 2027 elections.
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