Benue APC primaries: Gov Alia serves serving Benue lawmakers breakfast

Some serving members of the House of Representatives loyal to former Benue State Governor and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, have lost their return tickets in the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary elections held across parts of Benue State on Saturday.

The outcome of the primaries has been widely seen as a major political victory for Governor Hyacinth Alia, whose loyalists defeated several sitting lawmakers linked to Akume’s political structure, effectively serving them “breakfast” — a popular Nigerian slang for heartbreak and painful political defeat.

The APC primaries, conducted under the supervision of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee chaired by Alhaji Sa’idu Mahuta, produced major upsets in key federal constituencies, signaling what many party insiders described as a significant shift in the internal power dynamics of the Benue APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The result declared by the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee for the state on Sunday in Makurdi indicated only four out of the 11 seats retained their nomination, as the other member defected to the Labour Party before the primary election.

The lawmakers lost to candidates believed to be loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia.

According to the committee chairman, Sabiu Mahuta, the member representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, Austin Achado, and the member representing Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, Mr David Ogewu, both lost their re-election bids.

Others who lost their return tickets include Terseer Ugbor of Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Sekav Iyortyom of Buruku Federal Constituency, and Dickson Tarkighir of Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency.

The four incumbent federal lawmakers who secured the return tickets include wife of the SGF, Regina Akume, representing the Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency; Solomon Wombo, representing the Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency; Ojotu Ojema, representing the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency; and Blessing Onuh, representing the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency.

Mr Mahuta said the winners met both the electoral requirements and APC guidelines for the conduct of the primaries and were accordingly declared winners of the elections.

He explained that though the primaries were conducted on Saturday, many returning officers could not return on time due to distance and security challenges in some areas.

According to him, the committee advised the returning officers to lodge in secure locations and return on Sunday for the collation and announcement of results.

Mr Mahuta said Mr Achado who scored 729 votes lost the Gwer East/Gwer West ticket to David Nongo, who polled 17,429 votes.

The returning officer for the constituency, Demian Akpem, told the panel that elections in Gbemacha Ward were cancelled due to overvoting, while elections in two other wards were disrupted after election materials were snatched.

Mr Mahuta also announced that Peter Ogbodo scored 12,993 votes to defeat Mr Ogewu, who polled 120 votes in the Oju/Obi Federal Constituency primary.

He further declared Christopher Ikper the winner of the Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency primary after polling 37,844 votes to defeat the incumbent, Dickson Tarkighir, who scored 1,746 votes.

The chairman also said Gideon Inyom polled 10,470 votes to defeat the incumbent member representing Buruku Federal Constituency, Sekav Iyortyom, who scored 1,396 votes.

Mr Mahuta also declared Anthony Agom winner of the Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency primary after scoring 19,124 votes.

He also announced that Ojotu Ojema won the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency ticket after polling 11,305 votes.

According to Mahuta, Mrs Akume retained the Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency ticket after polling 19,638 votes.

He added that Blessing Onuh also secured the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency ticket after scoring 17,451 votes.