The Benue State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed Benjamin Omakolo as the party’s acting chairman. The decision was made during a late-night meeting at the old banquet hall of the government house, presided over by State Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia.
The meeting, attended by the state executive, principal officers of the State Assembly, the state working committee, and local government party chairmen and secretaries, aimed to address the leadership vacuum caused by the suspension of the state chairman, Austin Agada. Governor Alia explained that the suspension, initiated by the Ihaje ward council, was prompted by a court order prohibiting Agada from acting as the party chairman. This led to the need for a replacement, as voiced by party elders from Zone C, who approached the governor to prevent the party from further disarray.
James Orgunga, the party organizing secretary in the state, expressed concern over the disarray following the chairman’s suspension and the subsequent court order, highlighting the violation of the party’s constitutional provisions for state executive committee meetings. Various party members, including the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, the Secretary of the APC in Ogbadibo Local Government, and the Chairman of the APC in Konshisha Local Government, appreciated the pressure exerted by Zone C APC stakeholders on the governor to fill the vacant position of the state chairman.
In his acceptance speech, the newly appointed acting State Chairman, Benjamin Omakolo, expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by the party members. He pledged to unify the party and position it strategically for future electoral victories.
The APC in Benue State has been embroiled in internal turmoil attributed to supporters of the state governor and the Secretary to the government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. Both leaders have dismissed these issues, attributing them to political manipulations.
The appointment of a new acting chairman signifies a bid to stabilize the party and project a cohesive front as it navigates through its internal challenges.
