The Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, on Thursday, inaugurated a new working committee for the state All Progressive Congress.
Alia said, ‘‘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 inauguration was done at the factional party secretariat located close to the Government House, Makurdi.
The Benue State 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.
This led to the appointment of Benjamin Omakolo as acting chairman by the state executive committee headed by Governor Alia.
On January 12, the Benue State Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpampese, vacated the earlier court order and reinstated Agada as party chairman until the case which was assigned to a new judge was disposed of.
To resolve the crisis, the national secretariat of the party, last week, asked all party members to withdraw all cases in court as a prelude to resolving the internal crisis that had engulfed the party in the state.
Agada’s working committee, through the state APC Legal Adviser, Alyebo Mathew, filed a notice of withdrawal on March 25, 2024, on a case filed by the chairman and was consequently struck out by Justice T.A. Kume.
Incidentally, the same day Agada’s case was struck out, the state governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Paul Biam, constituted the new state working committee led by Omakolo.
The governor described the occasion as ‘historic’ in the annals of the state politics, adding that what they had been doing behind closed doors, had now come to fruition.
He said, “This is the day of our liberation. We will conquer; do not be afraid, the beginning may be rough but stand firm.
“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.
“Omakolo has come to stay. Let’s put the record straight to ensure the right thing is done. We have sworn to uphold party supremacy we will keep APC flags flying in the State.
“I commend your doggedness. It is a critical time that requires men of courage. In the end, you will thank God that you were part of those who liberated the State from the shackles of darkness. The Governor is solidly behind this Exco there is no other APC and there will be none again in the state.
“We are on a mission to succeed. Already six National Assembly members have indicated interest to be on our side. We appreciate Ehaje ward (Austin Agada’s ward) for this development.”
The state ALGON Chairman, who doubles as Chairman of Konshisha Local Government Area, Philip Achuah, pledged the loyalty of council chairmen to the party executives.
“Be assured of our cooperation at the grassroots. At any time we are called upon, we will be there. We‘re a product of the APC and renewed Progressives,” Achuah said.
