Former Benue State Governor and current Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, played a pivotal role in bringing Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia to power as the Governor of Benue State. Despite Alia joining the party just months before the 2023 elections, Akume backed his shock selection under the All Progressives Congress (APC), paving the way for his massive grassroots popularity and ultimate victory. Akume would go on to use his powerful structure to ensure Alia’s victory at the polls.That was in 2023. Fast forward to 2026, the governor and godfather relationship has reached an all time low so much so that all that binded the governor and the SGF together has been torn to shreds.The fight stems basically on who wields the bigger power and controls the party structure in the state.
Though Alia joined the party just two months before the primaries, his prominence from ‘performing miracles’ across Benue ensured him widespread support from the Christian-dominated state.
Backed by Akume, who has dominated the APC apparatus in Benue for more than a decade, Alia was handed the governorship ticket on a silver platter. His slogan ‘Yes Father’ resonated strongly, and even before the main election, his victory was considered assured. Many other APC candidates like the state and federal lawmakers including local government chairmen rode on his goodwill to clinch victories.
But after only 10-month rise from priest to governor, Alia reportedly turned his back on Akume in a plot akin to the Nyesome Wike/ Fubara feud in Rivers State.
This development has alienated powerful blocs in the APC who backed his shock selection for governorship. Politica watchers in Benue told City People the problem did not start today but only reached tipping point during the last APC primaries in the state where Alia seem to have given Akume a bloody nose by finally taking over control of the APC Structure in the state.
The first signs of discord emerged after Alia’s inauguration in May 2023 when he resisted appointments recommended by party chieftains, insisting the candidates were not competent. He also launched a probe into Local Council Chairmen ,sacking many who were deemed corrupt and installing interim replacements.
Later, aggrieved APC Federal Lawmakers in Benue accused Alia of nepotism, appointing only his kinsmen to key state posts. They say his governance style risks the party forfeiting the state in the 2027 General Elections.
“Before Alia came into power, there was a tradition of consulting party elders and the executive council on appointments, but the governor rubbished that process,” said Philip Agbese, the deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives,an Akume protege.He is ungrateful after being given the ticket by Akume and the party. “He doesn’t even carry cabinet members along”, Agbese said, arguing that Alia has done little to address state needs. The widening rift spotlights questions over the viability of godfather-style politics in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
Alia has been declared a persona non grata by many party officials, with his portraits removed from local APC offices in Benue,while underscoring the influence of former governor and SGF,Akume within the state.
A tussle over the speakership of the state parliament in the past further pitted Alia against the party machinery controlled by Akume. At that time, Akume had endorsed his former media aide, Becky Orpin for Speaker while Alia backed his own candidate —Aondona Dajoh — who eventually prevailed by just two votes. That was another sucker punch to Akume’s grip on state affairs. Insiders say Alia also rejected Akume’s recommendations for cabinet picks.
Those who expect Akume’s national stature, as secretary to the federal government in Abuja to give him significant power over the state’s APC structure are baffled that an ordinary Catholic priest is the one running the show presently while defying the odds.
Also those who expect President Tinubu to intervene in the escalating crisis are also not surprised because the president has reiterated that governors in their respective states are automatic party leaders.
Several influential figures formerly associated with the Akume political structure have either rebelled within the APC or defected entirely to opposition parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
The implications of this is that the defections of such political heavyweights to opposition parties are steadily weakening the Akume camp, once regarded as the most formidable political structure in Benue State.
Before the 2023 elections, Akume was widely seen as the undisputed leader of the APC in Benue. Having served as 2-term governor, 3-term Senator, minister and now SGF. He built a powerful grassroots political network across the state.
The growing movement of Akume Loyalists into opposition parties underscores the reality that the reconciliation between the governor and the SGF may not have fully healed the cracks within the APC.
Alia dealt a final nail in Akume’s coffin at the just concluded primaries when 6 Federal House of Representatives lawmakers loyal to Akume failed in their bid to return.They were instead replaced by Alia- backed candidates.
Among the governor’s loyalists who emerged victorious are Hon. Ojotu Ojema for Apa/Agatu, Terfa Ikper for Makurdi/Guma, Gideon Inyom for Buruku, Engr. Terhemba Nongo for Gwer East/Gwer West and Prof. Kohol Iornem for Kwande/Ushongo.
Others are Solomon Wombo for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo, Livinus Tsar for Vandeikya/Konshisha, Dr. Peter Egbodo for Oju/Obi, and Anthony Agom for Ado/Ogbadigbo/Okpokwu.
The SGF’s loyalists who lost the primaries include Dzua Yortyom in Buruku, Dickson Tarkighir in Makurdi/Guma, Austin Achado in Gwer East/Gwer West, and Sesoo Ikpacher in Vandeikya/Konshisha.
Others are Hon. Terseer Ugbor for Kwande/Ushongo and David Ogewo for Oju/Obi.
Most of the Akume Loyalists who lost their return bid have been highly critical of Gov ALIA and his administration in the last 3 years. However ,Mrs. Regina Akume, wife of the SGF and serving lawmaker representing Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency was spared as she secured the APC ticket for another term.
Wole Alakija
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