…Launch Tinubu 2027 alliance, demand recognition of party structures
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The Director-General of the Benue Strategic Alliance for Tinubu 2027, Chief Akange Audu, has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of sidelining longstanding members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State after benefiting from their support during the 2023 governorship election.
Speaking at the inauguration of the alliance on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Audu lamented the alleged exclusion of the party’s founding members from its affairs and the state government they helped bring to power.
According to him, the affected members had invested their time, resources and political influence in building the APC and securing its victory in the state.
He said many of the party’s founding members had invested their time, resources and political careers in securing the victory that brought Alia to power but were subsequently left out of the party’s affairs and the administration they helped establish.
According to him, the alliance was formed to defend the interests of longstanding APC members, promote reconciliation within the party and mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
“Our gathering today is not just the inauguration of an organisation. It is the renewal of a covenant,” Audu said, adding that the group was determined to ensure that the sacrifices of party members were not forgotten.
He likened the situation in the Benue APC to that of people who built a house only for strangers to occupy it and deny the original builders access.
“We built the house. We laid its foundation. We raised its walls. We defended it when the storms came. Yet, today, some of those who laboured to build it are being treated as though they have no place in it,” he said.
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Audu, however, stressed that the alliance was not established to destroy the APC but to reclaim the place of its longstanding members and restore the party’s founding ideals.
How Akume brought Alia into APC
Recounting the events leading to the 2023 governorship election, Audu said Senator George Akume, now Secretary to the Government of the Federation, played a decisive role in bringing Alia into the APC and securing the party’s governorship ticket for him.
He recalled that Akume left the Peoples Democratic Party in 2011 and joined the then Action Congress of Nigeria, a party associated with Tinubu, before playing a role in the coalition-building process that eventually produced the APC.
According to Audu, the party had several experienced governorship aspirants ahead of the 2023 election, including Senator Barnabas Gemade, Chief Steven Lawani, Dr Mathias Byuan, Herman Hembe, Professor Terhemba Shija and Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa.
He said Alia joined the APC less than three months before the election and lacked the established political machinery of some longstanding aspirants.
Audu maintained that Akume intervened through his political influence, negotiations and leadership to create a pathway for Alia to emerge as the party’s candidate.
He said members of the Akume political family subsequently accepted Alia’s candidacy, campaigned across the state’s 23 local government areas and contributed personal resources to the election.
“Some members made painful personal sacrifices. Some sold personal properties to raise funds for campaign activities. Others borrowed money, abandoned their businesses temporarily, and committed their resources to a cause they believed would transform Benue State,” he said.
He added that the group expected the emergence of an APC government to usher in inclusion, consultation and recognition of the contributions of party members.
Accuse Alia of excluding party stakeholders
Audu said the relationship between the governor and some longstanding APC stakeholders deteriorated after Alia assumed office in May 2023.
He alleged that statements attributed to the governor about retiring existing party members and bringing in his own people caused considerable disappointment among members who had supported his emergence.
The alliance director-general questioned why those who had contributed to the party’s electoral victory should be treated as outsiders.
“No political party can remain healthy when its founding members are treated as enemies. No political movement can sustain its strength by humiliating the people who built its structures,” he said.
He insisted that the group was not demanding that political positions be reserved exclusively for old members but wanted experience, loyalty and legitimate party membership to be respected.
Audu also expressed concern over the leadership crisis within the Benue APC, declaring the alliance’s support for the state executive led by Austin Agada, which his group recognises as the legitimate party leadership.
He opposed moves that, according to him, undermined recognised party structures and intensified divisions within the party.
The group also criticised the emergence of a rival faction led by Benjamin Omakolo, who previously served as the party’s Welfare Secretary.
Audu called for the resolution of the disagreements through the APC constitution, established procedures and appropriate legal and institutional mechanisms.
Raises concerns over reconciliation efforts
The alliance director-general said Akume had made efforts to reconcile the contending interests within the Benue APC but expressed concern over what he described as difficulties encountered during the process.
He referred to an alleged incident in which Akume was denied entry into Government House in Makurdi by security personnel and had to turn back.
Audu further claimed that reconciliation efforts had remained difficult despite President Tinubu’s intervention and desire for peace within the party.
He urged all sides to embrace dialogue and recognise that no individual was greater than the institution that provided the platform for political advancement.
“Peace is not a favour one person grants another. Peace is a responsibility shared by all parties,” he said.
He added that genuine reconciliation must restore confidence, respect party institutions and guarantee fair participation for legitimate stakeholders.
Alliance pledges support for Tinubu’s re-election
Explaining the purpose of the Benue Strategic Alliance for Tinubu 2027, Audu said the group would serve as a platform for political coordination, grassroots mobilisation, strategic engagement and the promotion of the Tinubu administration’s policies.
He described the alliance as a movement for restoration rather than revenge, insisting that its activities would not be directed at destroying the APC.
“Our Alliance is not founded on hatred. It is founded on hope. It is not a platform for revenge. It is a platform for restoration,” he said.
Audu said the group would work with community leaders, women, youths, political organisers and other stakeholders to strengthen the APC’s grassroots structures and mobilise support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He also said the alliance would advocate policies that address insecurity, economic hardship, youth unemployment and the plight of displaced persons in Benue State.
According to him, political support for the president must be connected to the everyday concerns of Nigerians, particularly farmers and communities affected by insecurity.
“Tinubu 2027 must be a project of conviction, organisation, inclusion, and service to the people,” he said.
Appeals directly to Akume
Audu used the occasion to reaffirm the group’s loyalty to Akume, acknowledging his role in the formation of the APC and his contributions to the progressive political movement.
He said members of the alliance had not abandoned the cause they pursued alongside the SGF, despite their grievances over developments within the Benue APC.
“Our message to you today is that the people who followed you, laboured with you, and defended the party alongside you have not abandoned the progressive cause,” he said.
He appealed to Akume to ensure that the grievances of longstanding party members were heard and that justice, fairness and inclusion remained central to efforts to resolve the crisis.
Audu also urged alliance members to remain disciplined, avoid provocation and intensify grassroots mobilisation across the state’s wards and local government areas.
He said the group would continue to advocate peaceful engagement and inclusive governance while defending what it considers the legitimate structures of the APC.
The inauguration comes as political stakeholders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ends
