There was jubilation in Makurdi on Tuesday as the original structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State re-elected Comrade Austin Agada as State Chairman for another four-year term.
The state congress, held in the Benue capital and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alongside security agencies, drew stakeholders from across the 23 local government areas of the state. Among those in attendance were one of the state’s two senators, nine of its eleven members in the House of Representatives, several members of the State House of Assembly, Second Republic Senator Jack Gyado, and former Minister of State for Health and ex-Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher.
Agada’s emergence is widely believed to have come through the structure of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
However, in a parallel development, a faction loyal to Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, also conducted a separate congress in Makurdi, where Benjamin Omale was announced as State Chairman.
In his acceptance speech, Agada thanked party faithful for what he described as the peaceful conduct of the congress and the renewed confidence in his leadership.
He recalled that when his executive was first elected in 2022, the APC was in opposition in the state but promised to reposition the party for victory.
“In 2022, when you gave us the mandate to lead you, we assured you that the APC, which was then the opposition party, would be brought to power, which we did,” he said.
He pledged to consolidate party unity in line with the leadership direction of Senator Akume and to work towards the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Reacting to the outcome, the Benue APC Caucus in the National Assembly commended Agada’s re-election, describing it as a reaffirmation of the 2022 mandate.
Speaking to journalists after the congress, the Caucus Spokesperson and Member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Hon. Philip Agbese, congratulated Agada and his executive, urging them to remain steadfast despite political challenges in the state since 2023.
He traced the party’s roots from the defunct Action Congress (AC), through the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), to the APC in 2013, expressing satisfaction that the party remains strong in Benue under the leadership of Senator Akume.
Agbese called on party members to sustain their support for Akume and to work collectively toward returning President Tinubu, as well as APC lawmakers at both national and state levels, in the 2027 general elections.
