Benue APC Rejects Parallel Campaign Council ‘Strategic Alliance For Tinubu/Shettima’, Accuses Akume, Utsev Of Anti-Party
Iorfa Akpen
The Benue State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the formation of a group known as the “Strategic Alliance For Tinubu/Shettima Re-election 2027” and its Campaign Council.
The rejection was announced on Friday at a press briefing by Hon. Citizen Richard Asema, Director General of the Tinubu/Alia 2027 Campaign Council, Benue State, at the Campaign Secretariat in Makurdi.
Asema said the party views the formation of the Alliance with serious concern, noting that it was unveiled by some senior members of the APC in the state alongside opposition political parties and candidates contesting against the party’s candidate in the 2027 governorship election.
According to him, the Alliance is populated by some APC members, including those holding senior positions in the Federal Government, among them Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Prof. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation.
He further stated that a look at the membership of the Alliance and its Campaign Council shows that governorship candidates of other political parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), as well as officers of some other minority parties, are members of the group.
“The APC in Benue State under the leadership of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia and the Chairmanship of Hon. Benjamin Omale, wishes to strongly reject this purported Strategic Alliance and its Campaign Council,” Asema said.
He described the Council as contemptuous and injurious to the fortunes of the APC and its electioneering machinery in the state as being coordinated by Governor Alia.
Asema alleged that, from credible intelligence available to the party, the Alliance has a hidden agenda to sabotage the election of Governor Alia in the 2027 elections while masquerading as supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the APC in Benue State recently constituted a comprehensive Campaign Council with over 900 loyal party leaders, which was publicly inaugurated on Thursday, 5th November at the IBB Square, Makurdi. He added that most members of the Strategic Alliance were appointed into the Council but soon after declared that they would not participate in its activities.
“It is regrettable that some APC members have fallen prey to this political gimmick by allowing themselves to be used for this act of political mischief,” he said.
Asema stated that Benue remains a strong base of the APC, adding that the party is well grounded and popular in the state. He expressed confidence that the APC will win the 2027 elections decisively with a higher margin than in 2023.
He recalled that in the 2023 elections, the party won the governorship seat, delivered President Tinubu, and won two of three Senatorial seats. He said the party currently controls 27 out of 32 State House of Assembly seats, 10 of 11 House of Representatives seats, 23 Local Government Chairmen and all 276 elected Councillors across the state.
He also cited the performance of Governor Alia, including infrastructure projects, establishment of industries, development of education, employment of 9,700 teachers, prompt payment of salaries and pensions, and clearance of arrears, as factors that have made the governor popular.
“APC doesn’t need any alliance to win the 2027 elections,” Asema said, warning against any attempt to confuse party members and the people of Benue State.
He advised APC members in the Strategic Alliance to disengage forthwith, retrace their steps and regroup with the mainstream leadership of the party under Governor Alia.
the Campaign Council assured President Tinubu and Governor Alia of massive support and victory at the forthcoming polls.
