No Parallel APC Congress In Benue – Gov. Alia

The Benue State government has said no parallel All Progressives Congress (APC) congress was conducted in the state.

A statement issued by the technical adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on media, publicity and strategic communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev yesterday said the government rejected what it described as false narrative on parallel congresses, adding that  the report on APC parallel congress was false and misleading.

The statement said, “It is pertinent that the author would first and foremost know that, there is a difference between a meeting, which any group can hold and a congress, where party members participate with guidelines and rules. So let’s get that clear and out of the way.

To begin with, what is the definition of a party congress? A party congress is a gathering of a political party’s representatives, typically including delegates from local branches, to discuss and decide on party matters such as leadership, policies, and candidates for elections. It’s often a formal, organized event with rules and procedures, and may involve elections for party positions.

In many countries, including Nigeria, party congresses are regulated by electoral laws and require oversight from independent bodies, like INEC and representatives of NWCs.

“Going by this understanding, it is safe to say that: (1, congresses require the presence of INEC. That’s to say, where there is no INEC representative, it can be referred to as a meeting and a gathering of people but not a congress. A congress MUST have INEC representatives. (2: congresses REQUIRE the presence of representatives of the National Working Committees, NWCs. That’s to say, an event that does not have the presence of the representatives of the NWC, is only a gathering of a group of people, which may be for political reasons but certainly not a congress”

“By the forgoing, it is very clear that on Tuesday, 03/03/2026, there was only one APC state Congress at the IBB square as monitored by INEC led by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Sam Egwu and the NWC, Election Congress Committee led by the chairman, Dr Auwal Isheye . Any other gathering was just a meeting. And my good friend Dan Ihumon alluded to this on Arise Television when he could not answer outright when he was asked about INEC and the NWC presence in their meeting”

“It is based on the forgoing that the Benue State government, is taking a strong exception to the article published in today’s Leadership Newspaper, authored by Aza  Msue, alleging a parallel Congress in Benue State and alluding that it is only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who is to determine which congress was the authentic one. This publication is not only false but also a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and sow discord”

According to the statement, “The facts are clear: there was only ONE state Congress in Benue State, held at IBB Square, Makurdi, where Dr. Benjamin Omale emerged Chairman. This Congress was conducted in the presence of representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Prof Sam Egwu, the REC and the National Working Committee (NWC) Election Congress Committee led by Dr Auwal Isheyi, a delegation from the National Working Committee led by the Chairman, Nantawe Yilwatda

“Any claim of a parallel Congress is a fabrication and a gross insult to the National Working Committee led by Prof Nantawe Yilwatda, who has recognized the Omale-led State Working Committee as the legitimate leadership of the party in Benue State”

“The attempt by some individuals to stage a parallel Congress is a clear rebellion against the party’s leadership and a slap in the face of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who appointed the National Chairman who in turn has been dealing with the Omale-led committee including the distribution of Congress materials. Any attempt to undermine this is totally unacceptable”