Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Nigerian Concord Newspaper can authoritatively report moves by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume to throw his weight behind the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Pius Akutah to contest the 2027 governorship primary election against Governor Hyacinth Alia.
This is coming despite a peace deal which was recently facilitated between Senator George Akume and Governor Alia by President Bola Tinubu himself recently.
According to Benue for Good Governance which is one of the Frontline pressure groups in the state, the move by Akume to push Akutah to come against Governor Alia during the next governorship primary election is against an arrangement of the party that all the progressive governors be given an automatic ticket.
The group in a press statement signed by its Chairman, Mr. Innocent Terna this morning condemned the prayer session by some people in Jemgbagh which was organized for Akutah’s governorship election bid when he went to Gboko during the weekend, stressing that such is against the peace move which President Tinubu called for between Alia and Akume.
The group recalled how Senator George Akume instructed Honourable Becky Orpine to take Akutah round Gboko in order to solicit for supports from Jemgbagh elders on his intention to run for governorship in 2027.
According to the group, the people who were seen in a viral video on Sunday praying for Akutah in Gboko are not the real elders of Jemgbagh. “The elders would not have supported another person against Governor Hyacinth Alia whom they have all identified with to return to the seat for a second term in 2027. The original Jemgbagh elders are aware of the popular agitation of the people of Benue State to reelect both Tinubu and Alia in 2027 so the SGF is only trying to go against the peace move of Mr. President” the statement said.
Meanwhile, this newspaper gathered that Senator George Akume had directed all his foot soldiers led by Senator Titus Zam to begin serious consultations for Pius Akutah whom he nominated at a meeting in his Abuja residence last week as the sole aspirant from the stakeholders camp.