BENUE APC TICKET CRISIS: Ottah, Agom, Lami, others battle to retain APC tickets

…Court orders status quo as moves to replace candidates thicken 

The lingering supremacy battle between Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume and Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has reportedly thrown the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state into fresh turmoil, with several candidates emerging from the party’s controversial primary elections now battling to retain their tickets.

Findings by IDOMA VOICE show that a number of APC candidates, particularly in Benue South Senatorial District, Enone Federal Constituency and some State Assembly constituencies, are facing uncertainty amid alleged attempts to substitute their names with those of other aspirants.

The development comes despite a court order directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of suits arising from the disputed APC primaries.

Ottah’s ticket under threat

At the centre of the controversy is the APC candidate for Benue South Senatorial District, Francis Ottah Agbo, who was declared winner of the party’s primary election.

Before the exercise, one of the frontline aspirants, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, had alleged that the primary process had been compromised.

Addressing journalists shortly before withdrawing from the race, Onjeh alleged that Moses Tsenenge, a Tiv APC chieftain, had “single-handedly imposed” Ottah Agbo as the party’s candidate against the wishes of stakeholders from Benue South.

Although Ottah Agbo has since maintained that he obtained the party’s nomination form and that his nomination has been uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal, reports have emerged alleging that his name has been replaced with that of former House of Representatives member Nelson Alapa.

Neither the APC nor INEC had officially confirmed any substitution as of the time of filing this report.

However, the speculation intensified after Alapa and several APC leaders previously identified with Governor Alia’s political camp publicly declared their allegiance to the Akume-led faction, a development party sources said further fuelled the internal crisis.

Enone ticket also disputed

The crisis is also said to have spread to the Enone Federal Constituency House of Representatives ticket.

The APC’s declared candidate, Anthony Agom, who currently represents Okpokwu Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, is facing a legal challenge from fellow aspirant Abah Okoriko, who is contesting the outcome of the primary election.

Abah Okoriko was among those who joined the Akume-led faction recently. 

In addition, party sources told IDOMA VOICE that another APC member, Ikwumonu Innocent Agbo, popularly known as Dumelo, is also laying claim to the ticket.

The sources alleged that Agbo has been seen in possession of what he described as the party’s nomination documents, further deepening uncertainty over the authentic APC candidate for the constituency.

More disputes rock House of Representatives, Assembly tickets

The crisis has also spread to the House of Representatives and Benue State House of Assembly tickets in Benue South.

In the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, the emergence of Blessing Onuh as the APC candidate is being challenged by some party members, who insist the process that produced her remains contentious.

Similarly, the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency ticket is also under dispute, with Ojotu Ojema reportedly facing opposition from within the party over his nomination.

For the Ado State Constituency, the political future of the Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Lami Danladi Ogenyi, also hangs in the balance. 

Another APC aspirant has laid claim to the party’s ticket, insisting he emerged victorious at the primary election.

The situation is no different in Ogbadibo State Constituency, where parallel primary elections reportedly produced two different candidates, with both camps claiming legitimacy.

The multiple claims have further deepened the uncertainty surrounding the APC’s ticket allocation in Benue South, as party members await the outcome of pending court cases and clarification from the party leadership. 

Court intervenes

The crisis has since found its way to court, with the judiciary directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the various suits challenging the conduct of the APC primaries.

The order effectively restrains any action capable of altering the outcome of the disputed nominations until the substantive matters are determined.

Despite the growing uncertainty, neither the Benue State APC nor the party’s national leadership has issued a comprehensive statement clarifying the authentic list of candidates for the affected constituencies.