2027: How opposition strategists are turning APC’s internal rift into grassroots rebellion in Benue

Opposition strategists are capitalising on the bitter, year-long feud in Benue State between Governor Hyacinth Alia’s camp and loyalists of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume. They are doing this by weaponising the resulting parallel party structures, absorbing disgruntled defectors, and pushing grassroots narratives about “godfatherism.”

When the Alia and Akume factions held parallel congresses to elect separate ward and state executives, it created confusion among the electorate. The opposition has exploited this vacuum in local party cohesion by presenting their own candidates as the unified, “authentic” alternative.

Political actors who felt short-changed or sidelined by the APC’s internal primaries and leadership tussles, ranging from former influential lawmakers to grassroots coordinators, have defected to opposition platforms like the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Labour Party (LP).

Opposition strategists are framing the Alia-Akume feud as a battle between the independence of the state government and the overbearing influence of Abuja-based political heavyweights. This narrative effectively rallies youths and rural voters who desire local autonomy.

The APC national leadership recently waded into the crisis, ultimately overturning the results of various National Assembly primaries in Benue to favour candidates aligned with the SGF. Opposition strategists are utilising this development to stoke further grassroots rebellion by portraying the decision as an affront to the governor’s camp and the electorate’s original votes.

Read also: 86 cleared, 59 disqualified for APC Benue Assembly primaries

Speaking exclusively to BusinessDay, a source close to the Benue State governor who does not want his name mentioned, said that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s camp has historically pushed back against national leadership directives when they threatened the governor’s control over the party’s state structures in Benue State. The power struggle within the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) centres on a fierce rivalry between Governor Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume. The national leadership’s decisions and interventions have triggered mixed responses.

“My brother, Benue APC is forcing opposition to take over even though opposition has not yet organised for this regard. However, the way I am observing ‘I gree, I no gree’ from the camps of the strong Benue APC two factions, the opposition may have no other option than taken over the leadership mantle of governance from Benue APC, come 2027 general election,” the source said.

When the national leadership or reconciliation committees attempted to secure automatic tickets for incumbent National Assembly members aligned with Akume, Governor Alia’s camp strongly insisted on direct primaries to determine candidates.

Following the primaries, the APC Primary Election Appeal Committee overturned several major victories for Alia’s camp, replacing them with Akume-backed candidates. In response, Alia’s camp criticised the actions as driven by vested interests.

Both camps have previously claimed possession of party structures and materials, with Alia’s camp supporting Benjamin Omale as state chairman while Akume’s camp backed Austin Agada, resulting in ongoing, parallel claims of legitimacy. While Governor Alia consistently reaffirms his loyalty to the national party and President Bola Tinubu, his camp actively resists decisions made in Abuja that undermine his grassroots support or dismantle his political influence in the state.

Loyalists of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, celebrated heavily after the APC National Working Committee (NWC) overturned the results of the initial Benue State National Assembly primary elections.

The national leadership’s decision effectively reversed the major victories recorded by Governor Hyacinth Alia’s political camp, including Sen. Gabriel Suswam, substituting them with several serving federal lawmakers including Sen. Emmanuel Memnen Udende of Benue North West senatorial district and Titus Zam of the Benue East Senatorial District and other aspirants aligned with Akume.

Supporters openly celebrated on social media and at political gatherings, declaring the decision a validation of their loyalty to Senator Akume and the Abuja-based party structure. Akume loyalists within the state APC leadership welcomed the sanctions placed on aggrieved members who opposed the NWC directive. They cited anti-party activities and alleged betrayal by certain factions during the polls as justification for the leadership’s actions.

Management groups and caucuses supporting Akume had appealed to the SGF to use his influence to extend this victory to the state level, particularly to resolve lingering petitions against the May governorship primaries.

Observers and supporters consider this outcome a strong reaffirmation of Akume’s influence and the APC’s internal conflict resolution mechanisms, positioning their candidates securely for the general elections.