Benue APC crisis worsens as Agada, Omakolo factions rekindle rivalry

There seems to be no end to the ongoing internal crisis tearing the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, apart.

This is as the Austin Agada-led faction and that of Benjamin Omakolo, rekindled their bitter battle of legitimacy and supremacy on Monday in Makurdi.

The free for all verbal war started after the Agada-led faction, backed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Dr George Akume, went to an unknown location in Makurdi and inaugurated members of an Ad Hoc Zoning Committee ahead of the local government election in the state.

The Publicity Secretary of the party in Benue State, Hon Daniel Ihonmu, in a press statement after the inauguration of the committee, said Agada in his address, mandated the committee to carry out a thorough job and make sure that party stakeholders are included in the Zoning process in each zone of the state.

He added that the State Working Committee of the party has also approved and begun sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms with Chairmanship forms going for N100,000 and N250,000, respectively, while that of Councillorship goes for N50,000 and N100,000, respectively

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The statement also said women would obtain both forms free of charge, directing that all payments should be made through Zenith Bank account Number 1223095804.

But in a counter press statement a few minutes later, Hon Benjamin Omakolo-led faction, backed by the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia through the factional Organizing Secretary of the party, Hon James Ornguga, warned APC members in the state against what he called “Diaspora Yahoo Arrangements”.

He advised party members to disregard any notice concerning local government elections emanating from one Daniel Ihomun, saying all elections correspondences would always come from him as empowered by the constitution of the party.

“Do not be a victim of their Abuja Yahoo Yahoo arrangements cooked in a foreign wine bar, away from the state to hoodwink unsuspecting party members.

“The party cannot begin sale of forms without the due approval of the State Executive Council and His Excellency, Gov. Hyacinth Alia who is the State Leader of the party.

“Therefore, all guidelines regarding the forthcoming elections would be originally unveiled at the appropriate time.

“Anyone who pays money into any account made available by the Benue APC diaspora group does so at their personal risk”, Ornguga said.

Newspot recalls that Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, few months ago, ordered security agencies to lock up the state Secretariat of APC.

He banned all party activities in the state, citing worsening insecurity.

But a month later, the Governor directed Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) to prepare and conduct local Government elections.

The ongoing wrangling is a battle of supremacy between the SGF, Sen. Akume and Gov Alia over who should be the leader of the party and control its structures in the state.