2027: Benue APC Rejects Akume-Led Coalition for Tinubu’s Re-Election

The Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the emergence of a political alliance reportedly led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

The party accused the group of pursuing an agenda that could undermine Governor Hyacinth Alia’s chances of securing a second term in office, despite presenting itself as a platform established to support Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Politics Nigeria reports that the Director-General of the Benue State Tinubu/Alia 2027 Campaign Council, Citizen Richard Asema, made the position known during a press briefing.

He expressed concern over the formation of the Strategic Alliance for Tinubu/Shettima Re-election 2027, particularly because of the involvement of Akume, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, and other influential political figures.

Asema also questioned the inclusion of politicians from opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), in the alliance’s proposed campaign structure.

He argued that the composition of the group raised questions about its actual objectives, especially as some of its members were already appointed to the APC’s existing campaign council.

Addressing journalists, Asema said the Benue APC was uncomfortable with the development and would not recognise the alliance as an alternative campaign structure for the state.

He said, “The Benue State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) views with serious concern the purported formation of the ‘Strategic Alliance For Tinubu/Shettima Re-election 2027’ by some political individuals and groups and the subsequent announcement of a Campaign Council for the re-election of our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The Party observes that this ‘Strategic Alliance’ is populated by some members of the APC, some of whom are holding senior positions in the Federal Government of Nigeria, including Senator George Akume, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) and Prof Joseph Utsev, Hon. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation.

“A critical look at the membership of this so-called Campaign Council reveals that governorship candidates of other political parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), as well as officers of some other minority parties, are members of the Group and its ‘Campaign Council’.”

The campaign director-general said the party, under Governor Alia’s leadership and the chairmanship of Benjamin Omale, had formally rejected the alliance and its campaign council.

He described the arrangement as a threat to the APC’s political structure in Benue, arguing that the state already had an established campaign organisation responsible for coordinating activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

Asema alleged that the alliance was being used to weaken the governor’s political standing while creating the impression that its members were working towards Tinubu’s re-election.

He said, “The APC in Benue State under the leadership of Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia and the Chairmanship of Benjamin Omale, wishes to strongly reject this purported Strategic Alliance and its Campaign Council.

“This Council, to say the least, is contemptuous and injurious to the fortunes of APC and its electioneering machinery in the state as being coordinated by His Excellency, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Alia.

“From all credible intelligence available to the party, this Strategic Alliance has a hidden agenda, which is to sabotage the election of Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia in the 2027 elections, while masquerading as supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The APC campaign council further explained that it had already established a comprehensive campaign structure involving more than 900 party leaders and stakeholders across the state.

According to Asema, the council was publicly inaugurated on Thursday, November 5, at IBB Square in Makurdi.

He claimed that several individuals now associated with the Akume-led alliance had initially been appointed to the existing campaign council.

However, he alleged that shortly after the list of members was released, the same individuals announced that they would not participate in its activities.

The development, according to him, raised concerns about the intentions of those involved in the alternative political arrangement.

Asema regretted that some APC members had allowed themselves to be drawn into what he described as an attempt to create confusion within the party.

He maintained that the APC remained firmly established across Benue State and was confident of securing victories in the 2027 general elections.

The campaign council also defended the party’s electoral record, recalling its performance during the 2023 general elections.

Asema said the APC won the governorship election in Benue, delivered Tinubu at the presidential poll and secured two of the state’s three senatorial seats.

He further claimed that the party currently controls 27 of the 32 seats in the Benue State House of Assembly, 10 of the 11 seats in the House of Representatives and 23 local government chairmanship positions.

He also stated that the party secured all 276 elected councillorship positions across the state.

The campaign director-general argued that these figures demonstrated the strength of the APC’s political structure and its ability to mobilise voters without entering into additional alliances.

He also attributed the party’s confidence ahead of 2027 to what he described as the achievements of Governor Alia’s administration.

According to him, the governor’s performance in infrastructure development, industrial growth, employment generation and education had strengthened public support for the administration.

He particularly mentioned the recruitment of 9,700 teachers as one of the major achievements of the state government.

Asema also highlighted the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, alongside efforts to clear outstanding arrears, as developments that had improved confidence in the administration.

He maintained that the governor’s re-election campaign would rely on the party’s existing structure and its record in government rather than a separate political arrangement.

The campaign director-general said, “His prompt payment of salaries and pensions, alongside the clearance of outstanding arrears, has also strengthened public confidence in his administration.

“APC doesn’t need any alliance to win the 2027 elections and hereby warns against any attempt to confuse the teeming members of the party and the good people of Benue State, who are already poised to vote for the party at the forthcoming elections.”

He also called on APC members participating in the Strategic Alliance to withdraw from the group and return to the party’s mainstream leadership in the state.

“From the foregoing, we advise APC members in the Strategic Alliance to disengage forthwith, retrace their steps and regroup with the mainstream leadership of the Party under Governor Hyacinth Alia.”

The campaign council reaffirmed its commitment to working for the re-election of both President Tinubu and Governor Alia in 2027.