Benue APC crisis: Dan Onjeh blasts Ganduje, asks him to resign

Comrade Daniel Onjeh, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s 2023 senatorial candidate for Benue South, has criticized the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and the National Working Committee (NWC) for their handling of the crisis in Benue, IDOMA VOICE reports.

Recall that the NWC, led by Ganduje, had urged loyalists and proxies of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to withdraw their lawsuits or face disciplinary actions from the party in an effort to resolve the ongoing leadership crisis in the state.

The political feud between Governor Alia and the SGF Akume has reportedly caused division among Benue APC members, with supporters split on which camp to align with.

In response to the directive to withdraw lawsuits, Onjeh, in a letter dated March 25, 2024, addressed to the APC NWC via Ganduje, questioned why the NWC ignored his previous petition dated January 22, 2024, and a subsequent reminder on February 6, 2024. In these communications, he alleged anti-party activities against the embattled state chairman of the party, Mr. Austin Agada.

The APC chieftain accused Mr. Agada of financial impropriety and claimed that he worked for the opposition party during the 2023 general elections. Mr. Agada has denied these allegations.

In his recent letter, Onjeh expressed disappointment that the NWC’s failure to address his petition “clearly indicates their support for the injustice within the Benue State Chapter of the APC.”

Onjeh emphasized that progressive members of the APC in the state will not adhere to Ganduje’s directive. He stated that the NWC must provide an explanation for their neglect of his petition, asserting that “justice delayed is justice denied.”

He called on Ganduje and the APC NWC to either adhere to the party’s constitution or resign within seven days.

“Onjeh stated, “Let me be clear that as long as the NWC fails to uphold the party constitution, we, the progressive members of the APC in Benue State, will not comply with its directives.

“We will not withdraw any court case as we refuse to be silenced or intimidated into accepting injustice. Ubi jus ubi remedium is a Latin legal maxim that translates to ‘where there is a right, there is a remedy.’

“It reflects the principle that when a legal right is violated, the law provides a corresponding remedy or relief for the aggrieved party,” Onjeh concluded.