• Automatic Tickets Directive and other Toxic Areas Identified

By Felix Umande from Makurdi

With the Alia-Akume reconciliation meeting of Sunday, come and gone, political observers warn of a likely deeper APC crisis.

Reactions from the camps of Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, with political analysts and stakeholders are sharply divided over its outcome. One of the toxic issues is the reported presidential directive on automatic tickets for APC lawmakers.

The closed-door meeting, held at the New Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, was convened to end the protracted party crisis between both leaders.

But at the meeting, the SGF reportedly delivered directives from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including one instructing Governor Alia to ensure that all members of the State and National Assembly elected on the APC platform receive automatic tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.

No written communiqué was immediately issued at the end of the meeting, a development that has fueled conflicting interpretations from both camps.

Political analyst Tersugh Daniel Aondoakaa described the meeting as “a masterclass in political theatre” rather than genuine reconciliation.

“What unfolded was not reconciliation in any meaningful sense. It was staged primarily to assure President Tinubu that his directive had been honoured, while ensuring that the substantive political dynamics on the ground remained exactly as Akume had engineered them,” Aondoakaa said.

He argued that the absence of a jointly signed resolution meant “each side walked away with its own version of proceedings.”

Aondoakaa noted Akume’s public declaration that Governor Alia would be returned, he argued that no loyalist of the SGF who had already picked a gubernatorial form was asked to step down. “If there were any genuine commitment, the most basic evidence would have been that instruction,” he said.

He added that the automatic ticket directive was “a political impossibility” that ignores zoning arrangements and the performance records of some sitting legislators.

According to him, Governor Alia’s rejection of automatic tickets and insistence on open primaries “exposed the reconciliation as the hollow exercise it was.” He warned that Alia faces at least four credible contenders in the primaries, including Dr Jeffrey Kuraun, Dr Matthias Byuan, and Hon. Terwase Orbunde, a situation that could fragment votes across the state.

“Stakeholders aligned with Akume have already been projected to cross over and work for the PDP if Alia survives the primary. Kwande may also pursue its own gubernatorial ambition with Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa as PDP consensus candidate,” he added.

A Political commentator Hitler Akya took a harder stance, accusing Governor Alia of defying President Tinubu’s directive.

“By refusing the President’s directive for peace and reconciliation in the Benue APC, Governor Hyacinth Alia has, politically speaking, spat in the President’s face,” Akya wrote.

He argued that presidential directives are “Instruments of party discipline” and not suggestions. “Turning that directive down tells the Villa that the Governor rates his local battles above the party’s national interest.”

Akya warned that the cost of the stance would not be borne by the Governor alone. “Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C are already bleeding from insecurity and economic strain. What Benue APC needed was unity of purpose. What it got was a Governor willing to stare down the President to protect his own camp.”

A Legal practitioner and political commentator, Barr. Jirgba Terfa Jirgba, raised constitutional and procedural concerns about the reported directive.

“The national leadership of the APC has clearly maintained that automatic tickets should not be granted to any aspirant. More specifically, the party approved direct primaries for Benue State, which fundamentally contradicts any blanket endorsement of automatic candidacy,” he said.

Jirgba noted that many aspirants had already purchased forms at “Significant financial cost” and warned that imposing automatic tickets could trigger “Legal disputes and internal party crises.”

He questioned who would refund aspirants if barred from contesting: “The President, the Governor, or the party leadership?” he asked.

“It is also unclear under what legal or political framework the President can direct that all elected APC officials in Benue be returned unconditionally. Such a sweeping mandate raises constitutional and democratic concerns,” he added.

But offering a contrasting view, Hon. Ferdinand Shinyi, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Alia, insisted the meeting was sincere and that peace was imminent.

“I try to look at body language in meetings like this. And going by the body language of the governor and the SGF, there’s reason to believe that they really want to reconcile,” Shinyi said.

He said he sat close to Akume loyalists and observed their expressions. “Going by the expressions on their faces and their whispers to each other, one could see that they were desperate to see this happen.”

Shinyi cited former APC chairman Abba Yaro, who, he said, gestured to him and remarked, “That’s all, e don finish na. This quarrel no suppose long. We are one family now.”

Son Tertsea, Abuja

Peter Obi, former Anambra governor and presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 elections, has formally announced his leaving the African Democratic Congress ADC.

Obi announced his decision today, Sunday, 3rd April via his X handle attributing his decision to ADC’s internal crises.

But this decision (to quit) has been anticipated following the uncertainties surrounding his presidential ambition in the party toxified by many wars and the recent judicial decisions, including last week’s supreme court split verdict may be the last straw that broke the Carmel’s back.

Following this development, speculations regarding Obi’s next move for the 2027 presidential election are centred on a potential move to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Our sources indicate that Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso may already be in discussions to join the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a new platform for their 2027 presidential ambitions.

Similarly, the NDC has reportedly called on Obi and Kwankwaso to join their platform, with indications they might be offered the presidential ticket.

By Felix Umande

Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue North-East Senatorial District, also known as Zone A, have zoned the 2027 senatorial ticket to Kwande Local Government Area, adopting Thomas Tyolumun Unongo as the consensus candidate.

The resolution was reached at a zonal meeting in Katsina-Ala, where leaders from Kwande, Ushongo, Vandeikya, Konshisha, Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala insisted that Kwande should produce the next senator for Zone A.

Dr. Sarwuan Tarnongo, a leader from the Jechira axis, said the decision was anchored on “fairness and equity.”
“We told our sons not to contest, and none has contested from the Jechira axis,” he stated.

Ambassador Chive Kaave, speaking for Sankera, said the bloc had come to “repay the senate loan” to Kwande, in recognition of Kwande’s past support for other areas. He appealed for reciprocal backing for Sankera in the future.

Responding on behalf of Kwande, Elder Chaver thanked both Sankera and Jechira, noting that Kwande had conducted wide consultations and reached a firm position.
“We unanimously agreed that there would be no ‘loan’ this time. Having supported other blocs in the past, it is now time for Kwande to be supported,” he said.

Elder Chaver then formally presented Thomas Tyolumun Unongo as Kwande’s sole candidate and urged Sankera and Jechira to rally behind him.

In his acceptance remarks, Unongo appreciated both blocs for their show of love and unity. In a gesture of inclusiveness, he invited fellow aspirant Engr. Imoter Jerome Ugboho to address the gathering.

Ugboho commended Unongo’s leadership and said Sankera was satisfied with the return of the Senate seat to Kwande, describing the development as “a moment of unity and pride for the zone.”

The PDP Zonal Chairman, Hon. Abraham Waroh, alongside all PDP chairmen from the seven local government areas, formally handed over the consensus candidate to the state working committee.

Deputy State Chairman of the PDP in Benue, Hon. Azua Ashongo, lauded the unity displayed by Sankera and Jechira and urged them to sustain their support. He expressed confidence that the PDP would secure victory across all positions in the 2027 elections.