By Felix Umande

The crisis rocking the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) deepened on Thursday as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, serving members of the National Assembly from the state, and other stakeholders of the party shunned the campaign flag-off of Governor Hyacinth Alia in Makurdi.

The event, held at IBB Square, was largely attended by supporters loyal to the governor, while several prominent APC leaders and elected representatives were absent.

Among those absent were Senators Emmanuel Udende (Benue North-East) and Titus Zam (Benue North-West), as well as members of the House of Representatives, including Asema Achado, Dickson Tarkighir, Terseer Ugbor, Sesoo Ikpagher, Sekav Iortyom, Regina Akume and Philip Agbese.

The boycott followed the earlier directive by the Austin Agada-led faction of the party, which had ordered its members nominated into Alia’s campaign council to decline their appointments. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the faction reportedly reinforced its position by urging members not to participate in the inauguration of the council.

In a related development, the Benue Strategic Alliance for Tinubu 2027 has disclaimed a publication jointly signed by Benjamin Omale and Hon. James Ornguga purporting to present an Alia Campaign structure in Benue State.

In a statement signed by its Director General, Chief Akange Audu, the Alliance said the publication listed its Conveners, Senator Dr. Jack Tilley-Gyado, CON, and Elder Simon Shango, MFR, as well as its candidates for the National Assembly and Benue State House of Assembly, as members of the Alia structure.

The Alliance categorically dissociated itself from the publication, insisting that its formally published organisational and campaign structure remains the authentic and authoritative reference for its leadership and membership.

It described as contentious the purported structure designating Governor Alia as Chairman while listing the Founder and foremost political leader of the APC in Benue State, Senator George Akume, CON, merely as a member.

The group said since the APC secured victory in the 2023 general elections, the party’s established leadership and structures have been sidelined by the Alia administration, a development it blamed for the divisions currently affecting the party.

The Alliance reaffirmed its commitment to mobilising support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and for APC candidates for the National Assembly and State Assembly who emerge from the leadership direction recognised by Senator Akume.

It also expressed concern over hardship in the state under the Alia administration, saying the 2027 process should provide an opportunity for constructive engagement on governance, accountability, party unity and the welfare of the people.

Meanwhile, speaking at the flag-off, Governor Alia expressed satisfaction with voter registration in the state, noting that Benue ranked eighth nationally. He urged residents, particularly APC members, to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, assuring them that their votes would count.

The governor appealed to aggrieved party members to put aside differences, forgive one another and work to strengthen the party.

“Let us continue to work in synergy. If, by any chance, you have bitterness in your heart, this is the time to let bitterness go and allow sweetness to come in,” he said.

He urged those not nominated as candidates not to lose hope, attributing his administration’s achievements to the leadership of the APC and President Tinubu. He also claimed the security situation had improved significantly since 2023, whenever local government areas were on the frontline of insecurity, noting that residents were gradually returning to their communities and farms.

By Felix Umande

In a stunning judgment that has thrown the African Democratic Congress (ADC) into fresh crisis, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday voided the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the party and annulled the 2027 presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.

Presiding Judge, Justice Peter Lifu, held that the caretaker committee was illegally constituted, and consequently, all steps taken by it including the nomination of Atiku and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate were null and void.

The court also barred Senator Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

Judgment in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 was delivered barely a day after Atiku staged a large rally in Sokoto, casting fresh legal doubt on his presidential bid.

The suit was instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, who contended that upon the resignation of Chief Ralph Nwosu as National Chairman, the party constitution positioned him to assume leadership, and that the emergence of the Mark-led caretaker violated both the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.

Defendants in the matter were the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu.

Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims, declared the Mark-led committee unlawful, and set aside all actions undertaken under its authority.

The ADC has vowed to appeal. Its National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined as an interested party, said the party will challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

Atiku, who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ADC, had begun campaigning with a pledge to restore fuel subsidy and reopen land borders. His Sokoto rally featured former Governor Amaechi accusing the Tinubu administration of unprecedented corruption, and former Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, accusing state authorities of frustrating opposition campaign.

The verdict adds to long-running leadership litigations rocking the ADC. In July 2026, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed a Federal High Court order restraining INEC from recognising state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the Mark-led caretaker.

In a 2-1 decision, with Justices Okon Abang and Donatus Okorowo in the majority and Justice Abba Mohammed dissenting, the appellate court ruled that power to conduct state congresses resided in elected state executives, not caretaker national leadership.

The ADC and Atiku camp at the time argued the judgment concerned only state congresses and the tenure of state executives, not the presidential primary.

Spokesman Phrank Shaibu had said then that “political propaganda can never substitute for judicial pronouncements.”

The new judgment now directly attacks the caretaker’s power to organise the presidential primary, effectively rendering that distinction irrelevant.

For the ruling APC, the development offers reprieve, as Atiku had sought to present the ADC as the main opposition vehicle, accusing the government of anti-people policies and promising economic restoration.

By Michael Lim, Jos

Hon. Aminu Zang, has rejected his inclusion in the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential and Governorship Campaign Council in Plateau state. The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, has taken the decision insisting that he remains a committed member of the opposition party.

Zang’s name reportedly appeared as number 254 on the published list of the APC Campaign Council’s Central Planning Committee. But he pointed out to say that he was neither consulted nor informed before his name was included on the committee list.

His statement on the matter entitled, “Clarification on My Inclusion in the 2027 Plateau State Presidential and Governorship Campaign Council – Central Planning Committee (CPC)”, Zang insisted his political allegiance remained firmly with the PDP and the Rainbow Coalition.

In his words: “While I sincerely appreciate those who considered me worthy of inclusion and deemed me suitable for the responsibilities associated with this important assignment, I wish to state, unequivocally and without any ambiguity, that I remain an unrepentant and committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of the RAINBOW COALITION extraction.”

Speaking in a telephone conversation with the Vanguard correspondent, Zang said:

“They didn’t consult me. I’m not angry, so to speak. “But, like, if you read the statement that I issued, I thanked those who felt that I was worthy of inclusion in the campaign council list.”

He added: “Unfortunately for them, I am a bona fide member of the PDP, so I cannot belong to the PDP and now be in the APC campaign council team. I cannot.”

On his political position ahead of the 2027 general elections, he said:

“I am supporting Wike’s position that Tinubu returns, but for the governor, no way. I’m in the PDP.

“Of course, we have a candidate in the PDP, Chief Kefas Wungak Ropshik.”

He also disclosed that the PDP had yet to constitute its campaign council, saying, “No, not yet. They are working on it.”

Zang urged political stakeholders, party members, supporters and members of the public to embrace peace, tolerance, civility and political decorum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said, “The electoral process should be approached with maturity, mutual respect and a strong sense of responsibility.”

He also urged all stakeholders to seek the guidance and intervention of Almighty God for a peaceful electoral process.