A fresh power struggle has erupted within the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after loyalists of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, secured the party’s final senatorial and House of Representatives tickets submitted to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), displacing several candidates earlier declared winners from Governor Hyacinth Alia’s camp.
The development has reignited the rivalry between both political camps despite previous reconciliation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Findings indicate that a number of Governor Alia’s loyalists who emerged victorious during the APC primary elections held in Makurdi were omitted from the final nomination list forwarded to INEC. Instead, serving federal lawmakers aligned with Akume were returned as the party’s official candidates.
Among those who retained their tickets are Titus Zam for Benue North-West Senatorial District and Emmanuel Udende for Benue North-East.
Also returned were members of the House of Representatives, including Terseer Ugbor (Kwande/Ushongo), Dickson Tarkighir (Makurdi/Guma), Asema Achado (Gwer East/Gwer West), Sesoo Ikpagher (Vandeikya/Konshisha), Regina Akume (Gboko/Tarka) and Sekav Iortyom (Buruku), among others.
The outcome comes weeks after Akume and Governor Alia held a reconciliation meeting on May 3, where both leaders publicly pledged to end internal disputes before the APC primaries.
However, political observers believe the latest development underscores the failure of that truce, with the contest for control of the party’s structure and nominations continuing behind the scenes.
Confirming his emergence as the APC’s authentic candidate for Benue North-West Senatorial District, Senator Zam disclosed that the party’s National Primary Election Appeals Committee upheld his petition and nullified the earlier result announced in Makurdi.
According to him, “On the 18th of June, APC held her party primaries for the senate ticket across the country. I was a contender and clearly won with the actual results supported by videos and photos available for all and sundry to see, however confirmed reports from security sources, party agents and social media indicated that some election materials were being diverted, consequently fake results emerged therefrom announcing the person I evidently defeated as the winner.”
He explained that he challenged the outcome before the party’s appeal panel.
“Armed with the genuine results from the field, supported by both digital and manual records that affirmed my victory, I petitioned the party’s National Appeal Committee for a review of those results fraudulently declared in Makurdi,” he said.
Expressing satisfaction with the committee’s verdict, Zam added: “It is my pleasure to report that the case has been decided in my favour, justice is done and I have been returned as duly elected flag bearer or candidate for the Benue North-West Senatorial District. All the processes and procedures to formalise my candidacy with the relevant electoral and security agencies are being done by the party at the headquarters.”
He also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, Senator Akume and the people of Benue North-West for what he described as ensuring justice prevailed.
“I wish to commend the National Chairman of APC, Prof. Nantawe, the President and Commander-in-Chief, HE Sen Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR, and my benefactor Sen. Dr. George Akume, SGF, and all the good people of Benue North-West Senatorial District for ensuring that the right thing is done, not just to me but to the entire National Assembly members in Benue State. With this information, I wish to plead that my supporters across the seven LGAs should embrace peace, love and party solidarity. To God be the glory,” he stated.
Also confirming his return, the media aide to Senator Udende, Jerry Iorngaem, said the Benue North-East lawmaker had completed his nomination process.
“Benue North-East Senator, Distinguished Senator Emmanuel Udende, filled and submitted his INEC nomination forms at the weekend. It is not time for celebration because we are one big Benue APC family,” he said.
Similarly, House of Representatives member for Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Hon. Terseer Ugbor, confirmed that the APC Appeals Committee upheld his petition challenging what he described as a fake primary election result, paving the way for his return as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general elections.
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