Fresh cracks have emerged within the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after Governor Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, offered conflicting interpretations of resolutions reached regarding automatic tickets during a high-level reconciliation meeting in Makurdi.
The reconciliation meeting, which was convened to address lingering divisions within the Benue APC ahead of the 2027 elections, brought together party stakeholders, federal appointees, lawmakers, and political leaders from both camps.
However, disagreements over automatic tickets for serving lawmakers quickly overshadowed the peace initiative.
Benue APC Reconciliation Crisis Deepens Over Automatic Tickets
The latest on the Benue APC and automatic tickets crisis centres on whether serving elected officials under the APC should automatically retain party tickets ahead of the next election cycle.
Speaking after the closed-door meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, Senator Akume stated that one of the resolutions reached was that all elected APC officials, from state lawmakers to members of the National Assembly, should return automatically as consensus candidates.
Akume also indicated that Governor Alia himself should emerge as the consensus governorship candidate of the party for 2027 as part of efforts to maintain unity and stability within the APC structure in Benue State.
According to the SGF, inclusiveness and reconciliation remained necessary for the APC to remain competitive and united ahead of future elections. He stressed that stakeholders had agreed to rebuild trust after months of internal tension within the party.
Alia Rejects Claims of Automatic Tickets
Governor Hyacinth Alia, however, publicly distanced himself from Akume’s interpretation of the meeting’s outcome.
Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, the governor insisted that neither he nor the SGF possessed the authority to grant automatic tickets to anyone. He argued that both President Bola Tinubu and the APC national leadership had repeatedly stated that there would be no automatic tickets for party aspirants.
Alia described Akume’s position as a personal appeal rather than a formal resolution reached during the reconciliation talks.
According to him, the SGF merely appealed to Benue citizens to support current officeholders if they deemed them worthy of another term in office.
The governor emphasized that the primary objective of the meeting was reconciliation and unity rather than imposing candidates on the party structure ahead of the APC primaries.
Reconciliation Meeting Meant to Heal Party Divisions
The reconciliation initiative followed months of political tension between both leaders over control of the APC structure in Benue State.
Since Governor Alia assumed office, internal disagreements between camps loyal to the governor and Senator Akume have repeatedly created divisions within the ruling party. Political observers say the rivalry has affected party cohesion and generated competing structures within the APC across parts of the state.
President Bola Tinubu had reportedly encouraged both camps to reconcile and work together ahead of the 2027 elections, leading to the peace meeting in Makurdi.
The meeting attracted prominent APC stakeholders, including former Governor Gabriel Suswam, lawmakers, party elders, and federal appointees from Benue State.
Alia Offers Apology to Aggrieved Party Members
As part of reconciliation efforts, Governor Alia apologized to party members who may have felt sidelined or offended during the prolonged crisis.
He explained that the apology was made in his capacity as leader of the party in the state and was intended to foster healing and restore unity within the APC family.
Akume also acknowledged the governor’s apology during his remarks, describing it as a positive step toward restoring peace and cooperation among stakeholders.
Former Governor Gabriel Suswam welcomed the reconciliation talks and urged stakeholders to prioritise unity over personal political interests. He noted that the willingness of both leaders to sit together and dialogue represented progress for the party.
Political Observers Watch APC Dynamics in Benue
The Benue APC crisis has continued attracting political attention because of the strategic importance of the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
Analysts believe the disagreement over automatic tickets reflects deeper struggles for influence within the party structure in Benue State.
Some observers argue that unresolved tensions could affect party cohesion during future primaries, while others believe the reconciliation process still represents a significant step toward reducing internal hostility within the APC.
Attention is now shifting toward how the APC national leadership will manage the situation and whether further consultations will help consolidate peace within the party.
APC Unity Remains Central Ahead of 2027
Despite the disagreements, both camps publicly reiterated their commitment to party unity and political cooperation.
Stakeholders at the meeting emphasized the importance of preserving stability within the APC to strengthen its electoral chances in Benue State ahead of the next general elections.
For many party supporters, the reconciliation effort remains important even as disagreements persist over political arrangements and candidate selection processes.
The evolving crisis now highlights the delicate balance between reconciliation, party democracy, and political ambition as preparations for 2027 gradually intensify.
