The crisis rocking the Benue chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new turn as the dissolved Austin Agada-led executive committee announced the nomination of 23 chairmanship and 276 councillorship candidates for the October 5 local government election. This development comes despite a court order restraining the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, from dissolving the Agada-led executive committee.
The primary exercise, which took place in all wards across the 23 local government areas of the state, was conducted through consensus and affirmations. However, the APC National Working Committee had earlier dissolved the Agada-led executive committee and inaugurated a seven-man caretaker committee, sparking a leadership crisis in the state chapter.
The Benue APC chairman, Austin Agada, released a statement in Abuja on Monday, affirming the primary election and commending stakeholders for a peaceful process. However, the APC National Working Committee’s actions have been met with resistance from the Agada-led executive committee, which has vowed not to obey the dissolution.
The crisis has exposed the deep-seated divisions within the Benue APC, with Governor Hyacinth Alia supporting the Benjamin Omakolo-led faction and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, backing the Agada-led state working committee. The situation raises concerns about the party’s unity and preparedness for the upcoming local government election.
