The 2027 political realignment in Benue State has taken a fresh turn, following the reported decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Benue South, Rt. Hon. Francis Ottah Agbo, to distance himself from Governor Hyacinth Alia and align with the strategic partnership being championed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and former governor of the state, Chief Samuel Ortom.
Agbo, who had been regarded as one of Governor Alia’s key political allies in Benue South, reportedly conveyed his decision to close political associates, citing concerns over the direction of the APC in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The strategic partnership between Akume and Ortom was reportedly initiated to mobilise political support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and strengthen the chances of the APC in the 2027 elections in Benue.
Agbo, according to sources familiar with the development, said his decision to align with Akume was informed by the need to avoid a confrontation with the Presidency and the APC national leadership over the direction of the party in Benue.
He was also said to have expressed his willingness to work with any governorship candidate endorsed by Akume ahead of the 2027 election.
The APC senatorial candidate reportedly maintained that he would not support any arrangement that could undermine the chances of the party’s National Assembly candidates or President Tinubu in the state.
Agbo was said to have particularly rejected any alleged move to work with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against APC candidates in the National Assembly elections, arguing that such an arrangement would ultimately affect the party’s performance in the presidential election.
He further alleged that Governor Alia had secretly designated some of his political associates to coordinate the 23 local government areas of the state in support of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, in the presidential election.
The latest development followed a recent meeting between Agbo and some members of Senator Akume’s political structure in Abuja, where he reportedly sought their support and urged the SGF’s political allies in Benue South to work with him ahead of the senatorial election.
Agbo is expected to face the incumbent senator representing Benue South, Abba Moro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2027 contest.
Sources said the APC candidate told the meeting that his decision to realign politically was necessary to strengthen his chances in the senatorial election.
He was also reported to have pledged his loyalty to Akume, describing the SGF as the leader of the APC in Benue State.
At the meeting, which was reportedly attended by Hon. Godwin Obla, Comrade Onminyi Emmanuel and other political associates, Agbo was quoted as criticising Governor Alia’s relationship with the APC leadership at the national level.
He reportedly questioned the governor’s alleged failure to comply with directives from the Presidency and the APC leadership, particularly where such actions could affect the party’s electoral fortunes in Benue.
Agbo was quoted as saying: “How can you call yourself a governor and you are disobeying Presidential Directives to the extent that you are now working for another party to defeat your president in a state which you govern?”
He further described Akume as the leader of the APC in Benue, saying that aligning with the SGF would provide political protection ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Senator George Akume is the leader of the APC in Benue and to avoid Abuja wrath, it’s safer to hide under him than to hang with Alia who is unable to save himself, not to talk of saving another person,” he was quoted as saying.
Agbo also accused Governor Alia of high-handedness in the management of the APC structure in the state, warning that what he described as the governor’s handling of the party could have consequences for the APC’s performance in 2027.
He alleged that the governor’s political approach could weaken the party’s support base and create an opening for opposition parties in the state.
The reported realignment adds another layer to the unfolding political contest in Benue ahead of the 2027 elections, with rival camps within and outside the APC already positioning themselves for control of the state’s political structures.
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