Benue APC Peace Deal Under Threat As Alia, Akume Disagree Over Automatic Tickets

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, held a peace and reconciliation meeting to settle disagreements within the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the party’s primary and 2027 general elections.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed Governor Alia and Akume to come together and work as one APC family in the state ahead of the 2027 polls.

The peace parley, originally scheduled for Thursday, 30 April 2026, was rescheduled to Sunday, 3 May 2026, and held at the Government House, Makurdi.

The attendees of the meeting included 10 elders and stakeholders from Akume’s camp, 10 elders and stakeholders from Governor Alia’s camp, members of the Benue State House of Assembly, members of the National Assembly from Benue State, and Federal Government appointees from the state.

Before the meeting commenced, Akume, who arrived at the venue alongside his delegation, met Governor Alia, and the two APC leaders moved into the Governor’s private office for a closed-door session.

After the reconciliation meeting, LEADERSHIP observed that Governor Alia did not support Akume’s position, which called for those elected on the APC platform from the State Assembly to the National Assembly to be given automatic tickets.

Those who benefited from the automatic tickets were mainly Akume loyalists.

Speaking with journalists after the peace meeting, Governor Alia said the issue of automatic tickets for APC elected State and National Assembly members was beyond Akume and him alone.

Alia responded when asked whether he supported Akume’s appeal for automatic tickets, “No, I think that is beyond both of us. Because APC has told us very plainly, Mr President has mentioned this several times. The National Chairman of the APC also mentioned that, until now, there has been no automatic ticket. So I think this is a prayer intended for the people of the state. It is not a resolution. Akume prays for the people, you know, to see deep within and to see how they can support members of those who are currently serving. So I know, again, it’s a reconciliatory meeting. So his right to have prayed, it’s a prayer he offers. So I think it’s appealing to the entire citizenry to see if they can bring these people back,” he said.

Alia added, “My initiative to invite, to call for this meeting, is very targeted, it’s very deliberate, so that every member will come back. And to those who are aggrieved, I have to apologise on behalf of every member of the APC in the state. So by doing that, it’s a directional responsibility. It’s very deliberate in giving leadership. And as I said earlier, when we work together for something, then we will make Benue greater. Remember that the state is larger, taller, bigger than each of us; we collectively are Benue. And we are only privileged to be in these positions. It behoves me to give leadership and take responsibility, therefore I’m saying I’m sorry,” Alia said.

Also, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, while briefing journalists after the meeting, stated, “All those elected on the platform of the APC, from the State Assembly to the National Assembly, are expected to return automatically. And, of course, the Governor is also expected to be automatically returned to office. These are the matters we have discussed,” Akume said.

Also, speaking, former Benue state governor and Benue North East APC senatorial aspirant, Gabriel Suswam, expressed joy over the peace meeting.

Those who attended the reconciliation meeting included Barnabas Gemade, Gabriel Suswam, and Jack Gyado, members of the Benue State House of Assembly and the National Assembly, and federal appointees from the state, among others.