By Isreal Adamu, Jos
The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu to closely monitor Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), over claims that he is collaborating with opposition politicians to destabilize the APC in the North-Central zone.
The Forum’s statement, released on Monday and signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, came in response to reports of a potential alliance between Akume and Samuel Ortom, the former governor of Benue State, against the current Governor, Reverend Hyacinth Alia.
The face-off between Akume and Alia over control of the APC in Benue has intensified, while Ortom’s administration is under scrutiny by Alia’s government. There are increasing indications that the two former Benue governors have formed an alliance aimed at challenging Alia’s leadership.
Ortom, who left the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during his tenure as governor, attended a thanksgiving event in Konshisha Local Government Area, Benue, over the weekend to honor Akume. The event also celebrated the 50th birthday of Dr. Matthias Byuan, a key Akume loyalist.
Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, criticized Ortom’s attendance, accusing him of poor governance during his time as governor. Ortom, however, through his spokesman Terver Akase, claimed that Alia’s administration has failed to address the region’s security and developmental challenges despite receiving increased federal allocations.
In response, the North-Central APC Forum expressed concern over Akume’s apparent alliance with Ortom, a prominent opposition leader in Benue. Zazzaga’s statement warned that this partnership could destabilize the APC in the region, urging President Tinubu to address the situation.
The Forum declared, “The North-Central APC Forum has observed with alarm the alliance between SGF Senator Akume and Chief Samuel Ortom against Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State. Ortom, a leader of the opposition in Benue, has joined forces with Akume to challenge the APC government in the state.”
The Forum further criticized Akume for forming an alliance that could harm the APC’s prospects in the North-Central zone.
“The SGF’s alliance with Ortom shows a lack of commitment to the development of Benue State and the North-Central region,” the statement said. “We believe that if Akume truly cared for the region, he would not ally with someone like Ortom, whose past actions have been detrimental to the state’s welfare.”
The North-Central APC Forum also noted that Akume had previously been criticized for favoring his Tiv kinsmen in political appointments, and warned that his recent actions raised doubts about his loyalty to the party.
The Forum called on President Tinubu and the APC leadership to take swift action to prevent further destabilization of the party, stressing that the 2027 election is critical for maintaining APC control in Benue State.
“We cannot afford to lose Benue State in 2027. We urge immediate action to stop this alliance from threatening the APC’s future in the North-Central,” the Forum concluded.
