APC Primaries: Alia, Akume Loyalists Move Battle To Abuja Over Final List Of Candidates

The political battle between the camps of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has shifted to Abuja over the final list of candidates to be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Recently, the APC national leadership conducted National Assembly and governorship primaries in Benue State under the supervision of INEC officials. In the exercise, Governor Alia’s loyalists emerged victorious in several key contests.

Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, won the Benue North-East Senatorial ticket, while retired Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) of Customs and husband of the Secretary to the Benue State Government (SSG), Benjamin Terseer Aber, clinched the Benue North-West Senatorial ticket.

Similarly, former member of the House of Representatives, Francis Ottah Agbo, secured the Benue South Senatorial ticket.

Alia’s loyalists defeated Akume’s allies, including incumbent senators representing Benue North-East and Benue North-West Senatorial Districts, Emmanuel Udende and Titus Zam, respectively.

Other Akume loyalists who lost their bids included incumbent members of the House of Representatives, Terseer Ugbor, Asema Achado and Dickson Tarkighir. However, Akume’s wife, Regina Akume, secured the APC ticket for the Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency.

The Chairman of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee for Benue State, Saidu Mahuta, declared the primaries free, fair and transparent while announcing the results.

However, dissatisfied with the outcome of the exercise, Akume’s loyalists reportedly petitioned the APC Appeal Committee and the National Working Committee under Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the primaries and seeking to be declared winners.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP on the telephone, the spokesperson for Akume’s camp, Daniel Ihomun, said the aggrieved aspirants were awaiting the final decision of the APC National Working Committee.

“What happened in Benue State during the APC primaries was a charade. Aggrieved aspirants have petitioned the APC Appeal Committee and are waiting for the final decision of the APC NWC in Abuja on the recent primaries conducted in Benue State.

“Only the APC presidential primary was genuinely conducted in the state. I can tell you that there is no faction in the Benue APC,” he said.

Recall that on May 3, 2026, Governor Hyacinth Alia and SGF George Akume announced that they had reconciled following a peace and reconciliation meeting aimed at resolving disagreements within the Benue State chapter of the APC ahead of the party’s primaries and the 2027 general elections.

Akume had reportedly demanded automatic tickets for incumbent National Assembly and State Assembly members seeking re-election. However, Governor Alia opposed the proposal, insisting that all aspirants, including himself, should test their popularity through direct primaries.