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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State descended into further chaos on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as rival factions loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume conducted separate ward congresses, resulting in the emergence of two conflicting sets of ward executives across the state.
The Austin Agada-led faction, widely aligned with SGF Akume, announced that the congresses had reaffirmed the tenure of existing ward executives for another four-year term. Daniel Ihomon, the faction’s State Publicity Secretary, described the outcome as a reaffirmation of continuity and grassroots stability. He urged the retained executives to remain transparent, inclusive, and fully committed to strengthening the party at the ward level, while praising Akume for providing “stability and direction” to the APC structure in Benue.
In sharp contrast, the faction loyal to Governor Alia, operating under a caretaker committee, insisted that the ward congresses had successfully elected fresh executives through consensus. James Ornguga, spokesperson for the caretaker committee, maintained that the tenure of the previous ward executives had expired in July 2025, local government executives in September 2025, and state executives in February 2026. He emphasized that no guidelines existed for the automatic return of old executives, describing Wednesday’s exercise as a legitimate fresh start for party leadership at the ward level.
The parallel congresses and conflicting claims have effectively split the APC structure at the grassroots, deepening the long-running power tussle between the governor and the SGF that has persisted since the aftermath of the 2023 elections. Observers note that the division comes at a critical time, with both sides positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections and the party’s internal preparations for future contests.
The development has raised concerns over potential legal challenges, accreditation disputes, and the validity of congress outcomes, as the national leadership of the APC is yet to issue an official position on the conflicting exercises in Benue. Party stakeholders in the state now await possible intervention from the APC national secretariat to resolve the impasse and avert further fragmentation of the state chapter.
