Politics
Appeal Court Dismisses Benue APC’s Challenge, Affirms Agada EXCO; Omale Faction Insists It Remains In Office
… Leadership crisis deepens after 3 June 2026 ruling
By Felix Umande, Makurdi
The Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress is mired in fresh leadership controversy after the Court of Appeal delivered judgment on Tuesday, 3rd June 2026, dismissing the party’s appeal against a 2024 High Court ruling that nullified the dissolution of the Austin Agada-led Executive Committee.
In a statement, APC Legal Adviser Matthew Alyebo said the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of Justice T.A. Kume of the Benue State High Court, who on 21st August 2024 declared the dissolution of the Agada Exco before its four-year tenure expired as unlawful.
According to Alyebo, the appellate court dismissed the APC’s case, Appeal No. CA/MKD/119/2024, “for lacking in merit” and resolved all five issues for determination against the appellant.
The court also affirmed the High Court’s consequential order that “all activities carried out by the Omale-led Caretaker Committee are null and void and of no effect whatsoever,” Alyebo stated. He added that off-record remarks by the court advised the APC’s counsel, S.D. Swem Esq, to “advise his client to obey Court orders no matter how stupid they may be.” Alyebo dismissed reports that Benjamin Omale withdrew any appeal, noting that Omale, the 10th Respondent, filed no process.
Contradicting the legal adviser’s account, the Omale-led APC State Executive Committee issued a statement Thursday, 4th June 2026, insisting it remains the legitimate leadership of the party in Benue.
State Publicity Secretary, Benedict Yawe, described reports of the Agada Exco’s reinstatement as “false, mischievous, and calculated to mislead members and the general public.”
He argued that the tenure of the former Agada-led committee had long expired and that leadership was determined by constitutional party processes.
Yawe said the APC conducted its State Congress in February 2026, electing Chief Dr. Benjamin Omale and other officials. The outcome, he added, was ratified and recognized by the party’s national organs and confirmed at the APC National Convention in Abuja in March 2026.
“Chief Dr. Benjamin Omale remains the duly elected and recognised Chairman of the APC in Benue State, while members of the current State Executive Committee remain the only legitimate officials constitutionally empowered to administer the affairs of the party,” Yawe said.
He dismissed the latest reports as “desperate attempts by political actors seeking relevance through confusion and sensationalism,” and urged members to rely only on official party communications.
The dispute dates to August 2024 when Justice Kume nullified the APC National Working Committee’s dissolution of the Agada Exco, following an earlier interim injunction by Justice Igoche restraining the NWC. The APC appealed the judgment, but Alyebo said the Court of Appeal has now dismissed that appeal.
Alyebo said the Certified True Copy of the judgment will soon be released “to put all interpretations and fabrications to a definite end.”
With both factions claiming legitimacy, the APC in Benue faces renewed internal tension as the court ruling and the party’s 2026 congress produce competing claims to leadership.
Politics
Namdas Congratulates Shettima, Says Tinubu’s Renomination of VP Signals Stability, Continuity
By Philip Nyam
The newly appointed Director General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, Ph.D has commended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to renominate Senator Kashim Shettima as the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 Presidential Election as a bold affirmation of competence, loyalty, and results.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Namdas said, “As a proud member of the APC and a stakeholder committed to the unity and progress of our nation, I heartily congratulate His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, on this well-deserved renomination.
“I also extend my profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the wisdom and foresight demonstrated in retaining a Vice President who has stood firm with him in steering the affairs of this country through challenging times”, he stated.
Namdas noted that “Since assuming office in 2023, the Tinubu-Shettima ticket has provided purposeful leadership anchored on the Renewed Hope Agenda. Senator Shettima has not been a spare tire. He has been an active partner in governance. From driving economic reforms, to deepening engagement with the private sector, to representing Nigeria with dignity on the global stage, and to providing calm, thoughtful leadership in the North East and across the country, he has shown capacity, humility, and dedication”.
According to him, “Mr. President’s choice to retain Senator Shettima sends a clear message to Nigerians and to the world: that this administration values continuity, experience, and teamwork. It tells our citizens that performance will be rewarded, and that the job of nation-building is not for grandstanding, but for steady hands.
“I also congratulate our great party, the APC, for presenting what is, without doubt, the most formidable presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election. With President Tinubu at the helm and Senator Shettima as his deputy, the APC is offering Nigerians a tested team that understands the assignment and has the courage to take the hard decisions required to reposition our economy, secure every part of Nigeria, and create opportunities for our young people.
“The road ahead will demand more sacrifice, more unity, and more belief in the Nigeria project. But with this ticket, I am confident that the APC will not only retain power in 2027 but will do so with an even stronger mandate because Nigerians can see that the foundation being laid today will deliver the prosperity we all seek tomorrow.
“Once again, congratulations to Senator Kashim Shettima. Thank you, Mr. President, for your confidence and for putting Nigeria first. And congratulations to the APC family. The work continues, and victory, by the grace of God and the will of the people, is assured”.
— Vatsa, APC Chieftain Tells Bago
By Michael Lim
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger state has been urged to select a Christian running mate for the 2027 governorship election for fairness and to garner more Christian support.
Jonathan Vatsa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State and former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, has advised.
He warned that failure to do so could cost the party significant votes due to the ongoing marginalisation of Christians in the state’s political landscape.
Speaking with journalists in Minna on Saturday, Vatsa expressed concern that the APC’s recent primaries produced almost exclusively Muslim candidates.
He noted that only one Christian secured a ticket for the entire State House of Assembly, while all three senatorial candidates, 11 House of Representatives candidates, and 26 out of 27 House of Assembly candidates are Muslims.
According to Vatsa, Christians have also been sidelined in political appointments, despite Governor Bago’s public outreach to Christian groups.
But he argued that symbolic gestures such as attending church programmes or making donations cannot substitute for genuine inclusion in governance.
“It’s not about attending church programmes, singing choruses or making donations. What matters is fairness and inclusion in appointments and elective positions,” he said.
Vatsa maintained that nominating a Christian deputy would help restore balance and strengthen the APC’s chances in 2027.
He cautioned that if opposition parties present Christian running mates, they could attract sympathy votes from the Christian community.
He further stressed that the credibility of candidates, rather than party platforms, will play a decisive role in the upcoming elections.
By Isa Abdul, Abuja
After a review of party primaries across the federation, Governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) have resolved to meet with Prof Netanwe Yilwatda, Chairman of the party, and other leaders.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), said the resolution was reached at the forum’s meeting which ended in early hours of Tuesday in Abuja.
The PGF is an umbrella body of all serving APC governors.
Uzodimma, while addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting said that the governors also resolved to work to ensure that Nigerians were better off.
He said that the meeting reviewed the outcome of the party’s primaries across the federation, the recent Ekiti governorship election and various by elections in which the APC came out in ”flying colours”.
“We have resolved to work towards solving the problems and challenges facing our democratic space and ensuring that our people are better off.
“We also resolved to meet with the leadership of the party to plan the coming 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections. We are ready and good to go,” he said.
The PGF chairman added that the forum further resolved to continue to work with the APC leadership to support and strengthen it and prepare it for future elections.
The meeting was attended by governors of Ekiti, Zamfara, Taraba, Lagos, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom and Borno States among others.
The meeting may not be unconnected with what some sources believe is the group’s displeasure with how the primaries were reportedly handled by the party hierarchy scheming out their candidates out for the 2007 polls
For Extorting ICPC Chairman of N53,000 in Abuja: Police Arrest 4 “Thieves” in Uniform
Spread the loveBy Nick Ibe, Abuja For extorting N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related...
FG Moves to Fast-Track Local Production of Malaria, TB Test Kits
Spread the loveBy Felix Umande The Federal Government has taken fresh steps to accelerate the local production of Rapid Diagnostic...
Benue Police Debunk Makurdi-Lafia Roadblock Report, Arrest Suspects Over Professor’s Murder
Spread the loveBy Felix Umande, Makurdi The Benue State Police Command has dismissed reports of bandits mounting roadblocks and attacking...
Torres Strikes in Extra-Time As Spain Down Argentina To Claim Second World Cup
Spread the loveBy Felix Umande A 106th-minute strike from Ferran Torres secured Spain a second FIFA World Cup title on...
Unethical Conduct: UNICAL Sacks Prof, Others
Spread the loveBy Seyi Balogun The 174th Governing Council meeting of the University of Calabar has approved the dismissal of...
Kidnappers Free 2 Siblings, Dump Mothers’s Corpse in Benue; 1 Still Held
Spread the loveBy Felix Umande, Makurdi Gunmen who abducted three siblings while they were transporting their mother’s corpse from Abuja...
President Tinubu has done to Kaduna what no president ever has—Speaker Abbas
Spread the love… Abbas will return as Speaker by God’s will, says Governor Uba SaniBy Saint Mugaga President Bola Ahmed...
Ending poverty is not an act of charity. It’s an act of justice.
Spread the love— António Guterres, Secretary -GeneralOn the Occasion of Nelson Mandela International Day Today, we honour the life and...
Goodluck Jonathan: Nigeria’s most cowardly politician!
Spread the loveBy Olu Fasan Twice in recent presidential election cycles, Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former one-term president, allowed speculations to...
Armed Herdsmen Abduct Mourning Siblings, Make Away With Mother’s Corpse in Benue
Spread the loveBy Felix Umande Suspected armed herdsmen have abducted three siblings and carted away the corpse of their late...