Benue APC leadership dissolved by NWC amid internal crisis

The internal crisis within the Benue chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) escalated on Wednesday as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced the dissolution of the Austine Agada-led executive, who is known to be aligned with George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

In response, the NWC quickly installed a seven-member caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs at the state level for the next six months.

The newly appointed committee is chaired by Benjamin Omale, with Prof. Bem Angwe serving as the secretary.

Other members include Richard Mzungweve, James Ornguga, Terhemen Ngbea, Helen Agaigbe, and Ali Francis Adah.

This shake-up occurred just hours after a Benue High Court in Makurdi issued an order preventing the removal of Agada and his executive team. The ex parte order, granted by Justice Theresa Igoche in a motion marked MH /1585m/2024, barred the Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje-led NWC from dismissing the Agada-led State Working Committee until their four-year tenure concludes.

The Benue chapter of the APC has been in crisis with Governor Hyacinth Alia and Akume, fighting for control.

While Agada leads the Akume’s faction of the party, Benjamin Omakolo was the acting chairman of the Alia faction.

Last week, Alia allegedly sealed the secretariat of the party’s faction loyal to Akume, stopping the faction’s scheduled meeting.

Addressing newsmen after the oath taking ceremony a chieftain of the APC Hon Engr. Sesugh Abua expressed delight in the ruling of the apex court saying.

“Today’s ruling is a huge win for APC and the entire Benue people ” he said.

Also Addressing newsmen after the oath-taking ceremony of the caretaker committee, the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, expressed regret about the development, saying the decision to dissolve the Benue APC was taken to salvage the party from total collapse.

He said, “Today, history has been made. But it is not the history we are proud of. However, it is an issue that we need to take immediate action in accordance with our constitution. It is our belief that our state chapter will work towards the development of the party without any problem. But since things didn’t go according to plan, even in organisations, you are bound to see problems here and there.

“We are all aware of the problems we are having in Benue State, such as faction, counter-faction, litigation and counter-litigation. This, the National Working Committee, will not allow to continue. As a party and institution, we are supposed to be united. So to solve the problem in line with our constitution, the NWC has today dissolved the executive committee of the Benue State chapter. At the same time, the NWC has approved a seven-man caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party for the next six months.

“Also, since we are going for local government election and the party is the only organ that can certify the candidature of any contestant, we have shared the responsibility of conducting the primaries for those who intend to become chairmen and councillors of their local government areas.”

While congratulating the caretaker committee members on their appointment, Ganduje urged the committee to “unite and continue the dialogue with major stakeholders so that we bring everybody to work together.”