By Daniel Edu
Amid the internal leadership crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, party stakeholders have outlined conditions for their support towards Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration. The discord revolves around the power struggle for control of the party’s structure in the state between Governor Alia and former governor George Akume.
Over the weekend, the crisis escalated as security operatives reportedly clashed with the State APC executive, led by the embattled party chairman, Comrade Austin Agada, and other stakeholders. Despite a directive from the state governor prohibiting political gatherings due to security concerns, the stakeholders insisted on holding their scheduled meeting to welcome Matthias Byuan, who recently secured a federal government appointment facilitated by Akume.
A meeting convened at the residence of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Akume, in Makurdi, concluded on Monday morning with stakeholders unanimously pledging allegiance to Akume as the leader of the party in the state. The stakeholders declared that Governor Alia would not receive their support until he recognized Akume as the party leader in the state.
During the meeting, Matthias Byuan expressed disappointment with Governor Alia, alleging his involvement in the physical violence at the party’s secretariat on Friday. Byuan, who had just received a federal government appointment, recounted the incident, stating, “We were driving straight to the party office when some youths came and fought us, but our youths overpowered them and entered the secretariat before police started to shoot tear gas.” The ongoing power struggle threatens to further escalate tensions within the APC in Benue State.
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