Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have renewed their fresh political fight over the newly inaugurated campaign group known as ‘Benue Strategic Alliance for Tinubu/Shettima 2027’.
The Benue strategic alliance for Tinubu/Shettima was formed by Akume’s loyalists, former Governor Samuel Ortom and other prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to mobilise support for the re-election of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in the state.
The group had distanced itself from Alia/Tinubu APC campaign council as Alia, Akume disagreement which began shortly after 2023 governorship election entered third year.
However, on Friday, the Benue State chapter of the APC and the Tinubu/Alia 2027 Campaign Council had rejected the formation of the Strategic Alliance, stating that it was a plot against Governor Alia’s re-election bid.
Addressing a news conference in Makurdi, the Director-General of the Tinubu/Alia 2027 Campaign Council in Benue State, Citizen Richard Asema, kicked against the inauguration of the Strategic Alliance by some senior members of the APC in the state, including the SGF, Senator George Akume, and the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, among others.
Reacting to the rejection of the strategic alliance by the Benue State APC and the Alia/Tinubu Campaign Council, Director-General, Benue Strategic Alliance for Tinubu/Shettima 2027, Akange Audu, in a statement on Saturday said the attempt to portray the the alliance as an enemy of President Tinubu because it accommodated estranged APC members and stakeholders from other political parties is unacceptable.
Audu, one of the core loyalists of Akume explained that the alliance’s primary objective was to mobilise support for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, and nothing should be done to undermine that commitment.
He warned that political support cannot be imposed through threats, propaganda or public accusations.
According to Audu, “The recent press briefing by Hon. Citizen Richard Asema, Director-General of the Tinubu/Alia 2027 Campaign Council in Benue State, accusing the Benue Strategic Alliance for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 of plotting to sabotage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, is unfortunate, misleading and politically counterproductive.
“The Benue Strategic Alliance for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 is neither a political party nor a faction seeking to take over the APC. It is a political lobby and mobilisation platform established to provide a common political home for estranged APC members who have been pushed out of the party’s mainstream political structure under Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, alongside stakeholders from other political parties and groups who share a common commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election” he said.
The statement explained, “These individuals have chosen to organise themselves and find political expression through a platform dedicated to supporting the President. They are not fighting to reclaim positions within the APC, nor are they competing with Governor Alia for control of the party. They are comfortable with their present political arrangement and simply demand the freedom to participate in the collective effort to deliver President Tinubu in 2027”
Audu stressed, “It is therefore important to distinguish between supporting President Tinubu and supporting Governor Alia. These are two different political choices, and one should not be made a condition for the other.
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“The Alliance believes that President Tinubu’s re-election should be treated as a broader national political project capable of accommodating diverse political interests, including individuals and groups who may not share Governor Alia’s political preferences”
The statement noted, “Our membership and support base include elected APC executive council members at the state, local government and ward levels, whose structures were unilaterally dissolved by Governor Alia. Our supporters also include the three senators representing Benue State, ten members of the House of Representatives and several members of the Benue State House of Assembly”
Audu added, “The Alliance further accommodates party members, opinion leaders and political stakeholders who played significant roles in Governor Alia’s emergence in the 2023 elections. These are individuals who, despite their loyalty to the APC, have remained committed supporters of Sen. Dr George Akume, CON, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Leader of Benue Politics, and continue to enjoy his political goodwill and support across the state”
“These are significant political forces whose commitment to President Tinubu should be welcomed and encouraged, not condemned or subjected to political intimidation.
The statement argued, “Rather than recognising this development as an opportunity to strengthen President Tinubu’s support base in Benue State, the Alia-led campaign machinery has chosen to portray the Alliance as a threat.
Why should an organisation mobilising thousands of people for President Tinubu suddenly become an enemy simply because it does not subscribe to Governor Alia’s political interests?”
“The attempt to use President Tinubu’s re-election as an instrument of political blackmail is unfortunate. Our political convictions, associations and organisational choices deserve respect. If the Governor and his campaign team believe they possess the political strength and structures to deliver the President, they should concentrate on their own campaign” the statement stated.
Also reacting via his Facebook page, the Director of the Media and Communications Directorate of the Aondoakaa/Ogbenjuwa Campaign Council, Dr Terver Akase, alleged that , “So, the Governor’s camp is now the one opposed to President Tinubu’s re-election in Benue State?”
Akase further asked, “Why are those mobilising support for Mr President suddenly becoming a problem? Is the President’s re-election now a threat to somebody’s political calculations in Benue?”
“One would have thought that everyone claiming to support Tinubu would welcome every genuine effort to strengthen his support base, not fight it,” Akase added.
