By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The supremacy battle between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator George Akume and the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has escalated with both camps holding parallel Ward Congresses in the state.
The Source reports that the crisis of confidence and battle for the control of the soul of the APC in Benue which began post-2023 general elections between Akume and his estranged political godson, heightened on Wednesday, February 18, as the two gladiators announced two separate Ward executives.
While the camp of the SGF announced the affirmation of the Austin Agada-led APC executive committee, loyalists of the Governor insisted that the Congress produced fresh executives and that the tenure of Agada’s executive has long expired.
Speaking on the development Thursday, February 19, 2026, the spokesperson for the SGF’s faction, Daniel Ihomun, informed that Wednesday’s Congress was just for the affirmation of the existing Ward executive committees in the state.
According to him, members having been satisfied with the examplary performance of the executive committees affirmed them to continue in office for the next four years.
“We heartily congratulate all Ward executives who were affirmed by their respective Congresses to continue in office for another term of four years.
“Your reaffirmation is a demonstration of the confidence reposed in you by party faithful.
” We urge you to justify this trust by remaining transparent, inclusive, dedicated and committed to strengthening the party at the grassroots.
“The mandate given to you is a call to service, not an avenue for the pursuit of personal interests”,Ihomun stated.
However, James Orguga,the spokesperson for the faction loyal to Governor Alia maintained that new ward executives committee emerged on Wednesday through a consensus arrangement.
Ornguga insisted that there was no where in the guidelines for the Congresses where it was stated that old executives are to be returned after the expiry of their tenures.
“What happened during our Ward Congresses yesterday (Wednesday) was that we adopted a consensus arrangement to elect new executive committees,the tenure of the old ones having expired.
“The tenure of the ward executives in the state elapsed in July 2025; Local Government executives’tenure also ended on February 8,2026 .. So the lifespan of the entire executive has officially ended paving the way for the election of new ones.” Ornguga added.
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