Alia’s Camp Sweeps Benue APC Reps Primaries, Humiliates Akume’s Loyalists

By Tgnews Reporter

Governor Hyacinth Alia’s faction has delivered a decisive victory in the All Progressives Congress House of Representatives primaries in Benue State, defeating candidates backed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

The results, announced on Sunday by the Chairman of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee in the state, Alhaji Sabiu Mahuta, at the APC secretariat in Makurdi, showed Alia-backed aspirants clinching tickets in most of the nine federal constituencies.

Ojotu Ojema, a serving member from Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, retained the ticket. Terfa Ikper won the Makurdi/Guma ticket, Gideon Inyom emerged victorious in Buruku, while Engr Terhemba Nongo secured Gwer East/Gwer West. Professor Kohol Iormem won Kwande/Ushongo, and serving member Solomon Wombo retained Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo.

Livinus Tsar picked the Vandeikya/Konshisha ticket, Dr Peter Ogbodo won Oju/Obi, and Anthony Agom emerged for Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu. All the winners are known supporters of Governor Alia.

The Akume camp suffered major setbacks as several of its candidates lost. Among those defeated were Dzua Yortyom in Buruku, Dickson Tarkighir in Makurdi/Guma, Austin Achado in Gwer East/Gwer West, and Sesoo Ikpacher in Konshisha/Vandeikya. Serving members Terseer Ugbor of Kwande/Ushongo and David Ogewo of Oju/Obi also lost their re-nomination bids.

However, two prominent female politicians succeeded. Mrs Regina Akume, wife of the SGF and serving member for Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency, won her primary. Similarly, Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President David Mark and serving member for Otukpo/Ohimini, won after contesting against three other aspirants.

The outcome has shattered claims of an automatic ticket directive allegedly issued by President Bola Tinubu. Senator George Akume had, at a recent peace and reconciliation meeting in Makurdi, stated that the President ordered automatic return tickets for all serving National Assembly members and the governor.

Governor Alia had countered that neither he nor the SGF could grant automatic tickets, stressing that both President Tinubu and the national chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, insisted there would be no automatic ticket for any aspirant.

The primaries, held on Saturday, have further exposed the deep rift between the governor and the SGF, two of the state’s most powerful political figures. Political observers believe the results have significantly strengthened Governor Alia’s control over the party structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.