The internal strife within the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified as two factions clash over the party’s primary elections. The dispute involves the ousted State Working Committee (SWC), led by Austin Agada, and a newly appointed Caretaker Committee under Benjamin Omale.
Last Saturday, Agada’s SWC held primary elections, which they claim were successful. However, Omale, who heads the Caretaker Committee, has urged party members to ignore these elections, sparking a significant conflict as local government elections approach.
This power struggle began when the APC National Working Committee in Abuja dissolved the existing executive committee and appointed Omale’s Caretaker Committee. In response, Agada sought a court injunction in Makurdi to prevent any interference with his committee’s operations until their term ends. Justice Theresa Igoche granted an interim injunction and scheduled a hearing for August 28, 2024.
According to a statement from Daniel Ihomun, the state publicity secretary of Agada’s committee, the primaries held on August 24, 2024, elected 23 chairmanship and 276 councillorship candidates by consensus. The local government elections are tentatively set for October 5, 2024. Ihomun highlighted the participation of several key figures and listed the elected candidates for various local government areas, including Elias Arugwu Ogbu for Ado LGA and Engr Tarkaa Solomon for Konshisha.
Meanwhile, Omale has announced that the Caretaker Committee will begin selling forms for the local government elections on August 26, 2024, at the APC State Secretariat in Makurdi. He has urged party members to disregard the primaries conducted by Agada’s faction.
