Benue APC Crisis Deepens as Party Gets Acting State Chairman

George Okoh in Makurdi

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has continued unabated, as the state Governor, Hyacinth Alia, yesterday inaugurated a new interim state chairman for the party in Makurdi.

This is even as he called on the supporters of the party  to continue rooting for the APC, saying it is the only platform that has good plans to change the fortunes of Benue State and Nigeria in general.

The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kula Tersoo, said he made the call when the State Executive Committee members of the APC visited him at the Benue State Government House, Makurdi, requesting that the vacant position of the state chairman of the party be filled in order to save it from further crisis.

Regretting the suspension of Austin Agada by his Ehaje Ward 1 Exco, which was later followed by a court injunction, and restraining him from parading himself as the state chairman of the party, the governor said he had faced so much pressure from the stakeholders of the party in Zone C, whom he said have recommended a replacement for the vacant position in order to keep the party going

In order to reduce the pressure on him and to also stop the party from facing further troubles, the governor explained that he has been left with no other choice than to direct Hon. Benjamin Omakolo, the welfare secretary of the party in the state, to step in as the acting party chairman, pending the outcome of the court case instituted against Agada.

He described the APC as the best party anyone could associate with, insisting that a lot of efforts and sacrifices were put in by many, which ensured the victory the party currently enjoys in the state, as he said the party cannot be left in the hands of a few individuals to destroy it because of their selfish interest.

While thanking the stakeholders of the party from Zone C for recommending a capable replacement for the vacant position of the state chairman, the governor equally called on all the APC faithful in the state to support Hon. Benjamin Omakolo, as he assumes the duty to pilot the affairs of the APC in the state.

Earlier in his opening address, the Organising Secretary of the APC in the state, Hon. James Ornguga, said they were pleased to come before the governor to explain to him the turbulent times the party and its supporters were facing as a result of the suspension and the subsisting court order restraining Agada from acting as the chairman of the party in the state.

He urged Alia to use his good office as the governor and leader of the party in the state to fill the vacant position of the state chairman, in order to stop the party from sinking further.

In their separate remarks, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Aondona Dajoh; the Secretary of the APC in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Abba Isaiah; the Chairman of the APC in Konshisha LGA, Hon. Aginde Daniel, as well as the state Assistant Legal Adviser of the party, Hon. Ajuma Success, all commended the Zone C APC stakeholders for pressurising the governor to fill the vacant position of the state chairman.