Benue APC crisis worsens as dep gov disowns peace communique

Fresh cracks have emerged within the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the deputy governor, Sam Ode, on Tuesday disowned a controversial communique issued after the party’s recent peace and reconciliation meeting. Our correspondent reports that the development may pose major setback to efforts aimed at resolving the lingering rift between […]

Fresh cracks have emerged within the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the deputy governor, Sam Ode, on Tuesday disowned a controversial communique issued after the party’s recent peace and reconciliation meeting.
Our correspondent reports that the development may pose major setback to efforts aimed at resolving the lingering rift between factions loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
The disputed communique, widely circulated in national dailies on Tuesday, had claimed that both leaders agreed on granting automatic tickets to elected officials – national and state assembly members – ahead of the 2027 elections.
But speaking to journalists in Makurdi, Ode, who chaired the communique drafting committee, described the document as fraudulent, alleging that unknown persons manipulated the process and forged legitimacy.
“At the end of the meeting, a draft was sent to the governor for vetting and approval. A copy was also forwarded to the SGF through the Minister of Water Resources for his input,” he said.
He explained that the committee only prepared a draft and never appended signatures to any final document, insisting that only the governor and the SGF were mandated to authorise the communique.
“No member of the drafting committee signed that document. What we had was an attendance register. It is shocking that someone took that and attached it to a so-called communique,” Ode said.
He further dismissed claims that the committee endorsed automatic tickets, stressing that the issue never featured in their deliberations.

Recall that the controversy followed conflicting positions by both leaders after Sunday’s meeting, with the SGF reportedly backing automatic tickets for incumbents, while Governor Alia distanced himself, insisting the decision rests with the party’s national leadership and not individuals.