Governor Hyacinth Alia’s reported last-minute efforts to reclaim political influence within the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have allegedly suffered a major setback following the submission of the party’s National Assembly candidates’ list to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to sources familiar with the development, Governor Alia held separate meetings on Monday with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, to express dissatisfaction over the list of candidates reportedly uploaded by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The governor is said to have sought a review of the list, which reportedly overturned the outcome of the APC National Assembly primaries conducted in Benue State in May.
The latest development is believed to be the culmination of a prolonged political struggle between Governor Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, over the control of the APC’s political structure in Benue State.
Sources disclosed that the revised nomination list, signed by APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, reflected significant changes that reportedly favoured loyalists of Senator Akume.
Among those affected were Senator Gabriel Suswam and Benjamin Aber, who had reportedly emerged as APC candidates for the Benue North East and Benue North West Senatorial Districts during the party primaries. They were allegedly replaced by Emmanuel Udende and Titus Zam, both said to be allies of the SGF.
In addition, six House of Representatives candidates believed to be aligned with Governor Alia were reportedly substituted in the revised list.
The candidates who eventually made the list for the House of Representatives are said to include Austin Achado, Dickson Tarkighir, Sekav Iyortyom, Terser Ugbor and Sesoo Ikpagher, all reportedly considered loyal to Senator Akume.
A party source told the Nigerian Tribune that Governor Alia visited the residence of Professor Yilwatda on Monday night shortly after meeting President Tinubu in an effort to persuade the APC leadership to reconsider the nomination list.
“He actually met with Professor Yilwatda after his meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the source was quoted as saying.
According to the source, the APC National Chairman responded diplomatically, assuring the governor that his concerns would be presented before the National Working Committee.
However, the source added that the revised Benue nomination list reportedly enjoys the backing of President Tinubu and is therefore unlikely to be altered.
“The truth is that the review of the Benue nomination list enjoys the blessings of President Tinubu. It can’t be reversed,” the source reportedly stated.
The source further claimed that Governor Alia was expected to return to Abuja on Wednesday in another attempt to seek a reversal of the list before the deadline for submission of candidates.
Meanwhile, investigations by Nova News indicate that the APC National Working Committee convened a meeting on Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat as part of preparations ahead of Saturday’s deadline for the submission of candidates’ names to INEC.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the APC national leadership nor the Benue State Government had officially commented on the reported changes to the nomination list or the alleged meetings.
About The Author
