President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed a reconciliation committee to address the internal crisis between Senator George Akume and Governor Hyacinth Alia in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, aiming to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has been named chairman of the committee. Other members include Yobe State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, former House Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Alhaji Ibrahim Mazzen, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters, and Professor Jake Dan-Azumi, Chief of Staff to the Speaker, who will serve as the committee secretary.
The committee is tasked with:
Resolving internal disputes within the party.
Investigating the root causes of factionalism in the state chapter.
Engaging key stakeholders and party organs to foster reconciliation.
Proposing structural, procedural, and strategic reforms for lasting political cohesion.
Making recommendations to the President for consideration.
The Issues at Stake
The dispute between Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and Governor Alia has escalated, fracturing the once cohesive party into factions loyal to each leader. Tensions were evident during the Tiv Day festival at J.S. Tarka Stadium, Gboko, on December 13, 2025, where supporters of both camps clashed, resulting in a stabbing.
Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, APC National Chairman, who attended the festival to receive a Tiv chieftaincy title, witnessed the clash and pledged to intervene.
According to Daniel Ihomun, Publicity Secretary of the Agada-led faction loyal to Akume, the crisis began when Governor Alia failed to recognise party stakeholders, leading him to establish a parallel executive committee under Benjamin Omakolo, later replaced by a caretaker committee chaired by Benjamin Omale following National Working Committee intervention. Ihomun maintains that the Agada-led committee’s tenure remains valid under a High Court ruling.
Conversely, James Orngunga, publicity secretary of the caretaker committee loyal to Alia, argued that the conflict stems from stakeholders not recognising the governor as the rightful party leader in the state, citing precedents from Vice President Kashim Shettima affirming governors’ authority in their state chapters.
Historical Patterns
Political analysts have noted a recurring pattern in Benue politics, where Akume’s influence over successive governors has caused friction. Timothy Akeh recalled that both Gabriel Suswam and Samuel Ortom, as well as the current governor, eventually broke away from Akume’s control. Stakeholder Godwin Ikereve attributed the disputes to Akume’s overbearing influence, warning that continued interference risks public backlash.
Ikereve urged the reconciliation committee to act fairly and avoid imposing leaders on the party, stating that success in repositioning the APC ahead of 2027 depends on impartiality. Former state lawmaker Bem Mgutyo echoed this, calling on Akume and Alia to set aside egos for the sake of peace and stability in Benue.
Warring Camps’ Stance
Both factions have expressed readiness to cooperate with the reconciliation committee. James Orngunga highlighted that the real issue lies between Akume and the governor, noting that supporters are simply divided along these lines. Daniel Ihomun welcomed the committee, emphasizing the party’s desire to return to unity and strength.
The committee now faces the critical task of bridging the divide to secure APC’s relevance in Benue ahead of the 2027 elections. Residents describe the state chapter as being “on life support,” with the committee’s outcome likely determining the party’s survival.
