Benue APC Crisis Deepens as Agada-Led Faction Names Candidates for Local Government Election
The Benue chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has plunged into deeper crisis as the dissolved Austin Agada-led faction announced the nomination of 23 chairmanship and 276 councillorship candidates for the October 5 local government election.
The primary exercise, which took place across the 23 local government areas of the state on Saturday, was conducted through consensus and affirmations, according to a statement released by the Benue APC chairman, Austin Agada.
Despite the crisis, the Agada-led faction has vowed to proceed with the primaries, which have produced a list of candidates, including Elias Ogbu for Ado, Tarkaa Solomon for Konshisha, and others.
The development comes five days after the aggrieved executive members, who were dissolved by the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, dragged him to court for ignoring the exparte order restraining the National Working Committee from acting.
A Benue High Court sitting had ordered the APC not to remove Agada and the current executives of the party.
The Benue chapter of the APC has been at loggerheads with Governor Hyacinth Alia over the leadership of the party in the state. While the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, is in support of the Agada-led state working committee, Alia has thrown his weight behind the Benjamin Omakolo-led faction.
In a statement, the APC Chairman of Guma Local Government, Lazarus Asema, described the primary election as peaceful and commended stakeholders for the successful exercise.
Simon Aluor, a participant in the primaries in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, praised the APC for showing a good example of orderliness and peace.
Meanwhile, the party faithful in Otukpo trooped out in large numbers to vote in affirmation of their preferred chairmanship aspirant, Oleho Augustine.
The crisis has sparked concerns over the future of the APC in Benue, with many calling for a peaceful resolution to the impasse.
