A high-level peace meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State ended in uncertainty on Sunday, as Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, gave conflicting accounts of what was agreed.
The meeting, held at the Government House in Makurdi, was convened to address the ongoing crisis within the party in the state.
Speaking to journalists after the closed-door session, Akume stated that party stakeholders had agreed to grant automatic tickets to all elected APC officials—from the governor to members of the National and State Assemblies—as a way to promote unity. He described the move as a step toward inclusiveness and stability, adding that Governor Alia’s apology over the prolonged dispute was a positive development.
“We want everyone to feel included. We want unity in the party,” Akume said.
However, Governor Alia quickly rejected the claim, insisting that no such resolution was reached. He described the idea of automatic tickets as a personal opinion rather than an official agreement, emphasizing that the party’s national leadership has made it clear that no officeholder would be given automatic tickets.
“The decision goes beyond both of us. The President and the national chairman have already stated that there is nothing like automatic tickets,” Alia said.
He explained that his apology was made in the spirit of reconciliation and urged party members to focus on unity and progress.
The Benue APC has been facing a prolonged leadership crisis, largely fueled by a power struggle between Alia and Akume, a former governor of the state. The dispute has resulted in parallel party structures and deep divisions across the state.
Sunday’s meeting was seen as a key step toward resolving the crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, the conflicting statements from both leaders have cast doubt on the chances of genuine reconciliation.
Observers warn that the disagreement could deepen mistrust among party members, especially as political alignments ahead of the next election cycle begin to take shape. As of the time of filing this report, no official communiqué had been issued, leaving uncertainty over the actual resolutions reached.
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