The lawmakers, also said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, remains the leader of the party in Benue as far as the APC’s doctrine and philosophy are concerned.
The caucus in a statement on Sunday signed by its spokesman and the House of Representatives Deputy Spokesperson, Philip Agbese, made the clarification.
PUNCH Online had on March 24, 2024, reported that the APC waded into the lingering political feud between Benue Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and SGF Senator George Akume.
The move followed a warning to loyalists and proxies of the two Benue politicians to withdraw their lawsuits or risk facing disciplinary actions from the party at the national level.
The cold war between the governor and SGF was said to have torn the Benue APC members apart with supporters divided on which camp to pledge their loyalty to.
Party chieftains have thronged the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja to report each faction to the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.
Also, on March 29, The PUNCH reports that Governor Alia inaugurated a new working committee for Benue APC.
‘‘There can’t be two governors in the state. We have only one leader of the party who is the governor. Let nobody make any mistake. Let us agree that while we were doing it at the back door, it has come to fruition. It’s a deliberate act to change the state executive committee of the party there is no faction,’’ the governor said at the inauguration done at the factional party secretariat located close to the Government House, Makurdi.
The Benue APC has been enmeshed in a crisis following the sacking of state APC Chairman, Austin Agada, by his Ehaje council ward and a subsequent court decision restraining him from parading himself as the state’s party chairman.
However, the Benue NASS caucus described those making insinuations that there were factions in Benue APC as “desperate comedians”.
The lawmakers, however, admonished APC members to see those parading themselves as the new leaders of the party as mere comedians who are just entertaining the Benue public.
According to them, it is only in Benue that some deluded characters who thrive in hero-worshipping individuals as demigods want to turn logic on its head.
They reckoned that as long as the party’s constitution and National Working Committee are concerned, Comrade Austin Agada is still the state chairman.
“We are true party men and doing things the unique way in line with the party’s doctrine of command, and that’s why members of the National Assembly Caucus are highly respected in our constituencies.
“We have not told anyone in our domains that we are the leaders of the party. For example, how do I address myself as the leader of the party in my federal constituency with Senator Ameh Ebute, Chief Audu Ogbeh, and Chief John Ochoga all from my place?” the statement added.
