The All Progressives Congress in Benue State has resolved its protracted internal crisis, with party leaders closing ranks behind Governor Hyacinth Alia ahead of his re-election bid.
A high-level reconciliation meeting convened in Makurdi on Sunday brought together the governor, Senator George Akume (Secretary to the Government of the Federation), lawmakers and other influential stakeholders.
Mistakes Reviewed
Senator Akume announced the resolutions after closed-door deliberations, stating that members openly reviewed grievances and political misunderstandings that had weakened the party.
“We reviewed our mistakes and agreed to rebuild an inclusive party,” he said. Leaders accepted that divisions had slowed political progress and affected internal confidence.
A consensus was reached supporting Governor Alia’s return as the party’s governorship candidate. Mr Akume noted that the governor apologised to aggrieved members during discussions.
“The governor apologised, and that is an important step toward reconciliation,” he said.
President Tinubu’s Message
Mr Akume also conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s call for party unity, urging all elected APC officials—including lawmakers at state and national levels—to work together.
Governor Alia: ‘Benue Bigger Than Any Individual’
Speaking afterwards, Governor Alia described the meeting as timely and deliberate, aimed at healing divisions and restoring confidence. “I apologised on behalf of all members to those aggrieved,” he said.
“Benue is bigger than any individual, and unity must prevail,” the governor stressed, adding that leadership required sacrifice and collective responsibility.
No Automatic Tickets
On the issue of automatic tickets, Mr Alia dismissed reports of any official directive, clarifying that no formal approval had come from party leadership. Earlier comments, he explained, were merely appeals for support.
Federal appointees, lawmakers and stakeholder representatives attended the meeting.
