2027 election countdown: Alia tightens grip on Benue APC as Ogbadibo faction dumps Akume

The battle for the soul and structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State took a dramatic turn on Monday as scores of loyalists of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, abandoned his camp and pledged allegiance to Governor Hyacinth Alia, IDOMA VOICE reports.

The internal realignment occurred at the Ogbadibo Local Government Area headquarters in Otukpa, where notable figures from the Akume-led faction openly declared support for the governor.

Speaking at the event, the Ogbadibo point-woman, Linda Ene Agada, declared that Governor Alia’s rising popularity across the state has left him without a serious challenger ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

“Governor Alia has no challenger in Benue. The people are solidly behind him because he is working,” she said.

“We are aligning with progress and we will defend this decision anywhere.”

She criticized what she described as prolonged internal sabotage that has hindered party unity, saying the defectors were determined to support the administration’s development agenda.

“We believe in the governor’s leadership and what he represents for the future of Benue State. It is time to work together for progress,” one of the leaders said.

Party officials in the area welcomed the movement, describing it as a bold step toward ending the ongoing internal crisis that has sharply divided the ruling party over the past year.

Among those who crossed over were:

Hon. Joseph Akor (Igwe) — former Benue State Chairman, NURTW

Hon. Sunday Ojo — former Chairman, Ogbadibo LGA

Hon. Eloyi Enekele — former PDP Women Leader

Comrade Joseph John (Jay-Jay) — senior education administrator and former principal, among others.

The transition of members from Akume’s camp to Alia’s camp is not purely local theatre. For months, insiders have pointed to a simmering struggle between the two power centres within the APC in Benue State: the SGF George Akume faction (rooted in his long-standing party networks) and the Governor Alia faction (now asserting direct authority over party machinery). The battle is structural, not only transactional. 

At the moment, there is an ongoing wave of defections and counter-defections across the 23 local government areas of the state, as both camps intensify efforts to consolidate their hold on the APC structure ahead of the 2027 elections.

Monday’s event in Otukpa also featured the commissioning of a new APC secretariat for Ogbadibo LGA, the first time in two years the party has had a functional office in the area. During the ceremony, Hon. Jerome Idoko was officially unveiled as the new APC Chairman in Ogbadibo, receiving applause from party faithful and stakeholders in attendance.

In a separate development, the House of Representatives member for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Philip Agbese, a known ally of the Akume camp, was also in Otukpa on Monday for a constituency outreach.

His activities were widely interpreted as a counter-strategy to neutralize the growing influence of the governor’s faction in the zone.

Sources within the party revealed that the Akume bloc is preparing a major defection rally in coming days, expected to attract decampees from various political platforms as a show of strength.

The prolonged supremacy battle between Akume and Alia has continued despite earlier interventions by the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, who had summoned both camps seeking peace and a united front. 

However, the political struggle has only escalated since then, with each side claiming they possess the legitimate structure of the party.