Benue LG Polls: APC Faction Defies Court Order, Nominates Candidates

The crisis within the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) deepened on Monday as the dissolved Austin Agada-led faction proceeded with the nomination of candidates for the upcoming local government elections, despite a court order restraining their actions.

Osun Defender reports that the elections are scheduled for October 5, 2024.

The Agada-led faction announced the nomination of 23 chairmanship and 276 councillorship candidates following a primary exercise that took place in all wards across the 23 local government areas of the state on Saturday.

This move comes just days after the group challenged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, led by National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, for ignoring an ex parte order that barred the NWC from removing the Agada-led executive.

The Benue High Court had issued an ex parte order, granted by Justice Theresa Igoche, which prevented the APC’s national leadership from dissolving the Agada-led State Working Committee before the expiration of its four-year tenure.

However, the national leadership of the APC went ahead and announced the dissolution of the Benue executive committee last Wednesday, replacing it with a seven-man caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs for the next six months. The Agada-led faction has refused to comply with this directive.

READ ALSO

●Politicians Weaponizing Insecurity For Political Gain –Okonjo-Iweala

●Perm Sec Accused Of Beating HoD To Coma

The internal conflict within the Benue APC centers around a power struggle between the faction led by Agada, supported by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and another faction loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia, who backs the newly established Benjamin Omakolo-led caretaker committee.

Despite the legal and political battles, the Agada faction moved forward with the primary elections, claiming they were conducted through consensus and affirmations.