Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Sensing the impossibility of wrestling the Benue Northwest Senatorial ticket with a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Mrs Iveren Ukula popularly known as Queen Amina as a result of her popularity in the coalition party, a former governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress, Barrister Emmanuel Jime has made a reverse to the camp of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Barrister Jime, according to an investigation by Nigerian Concord Newspaper has started consulting the Benue APC stakeholders in Abuja for the support of the SGF as the only option for him to realize his senatorial ambition.
Jime’s return to Akume’s camp isn’t unconnected to the rejection of the current senator representing the zone, Dr. Titus Zam as a result of what many term as a poor representation at the Senate.
It had been reported that Senator George Akume has made his plan known to replace Zam with another candidate for the 2027 general elections in Benue Northwest Senatorial District.
Recall that Jime had separately met with the leaderof the ADC in Benue state, Hon. Herman Hembe, a former member of the of the House of Representatives, Mr. Mark Gbillah and a former governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi who promised to secure the party’s ticket for him to realize his senatorial ambition.
Recall that Mr. Amaechi personally handed an undisclosed amount of money to Emmanuel Jime few months tto begin his consultations across the senatorial district.
Although, Jime got funds from Amaechi and also met former vice president Abubakar Atiku for further financial support some months ago but he didn’t spend a dime to consult. He even boycotted major activities of the All Progressive Congress in the state especially the recent pre- decamping dinner and the major party stakeholders meeting.
However, message got to Jime two weeks ago that the Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Senator David Mark with some leaders of the party in Zone B have made up their minds to give the Benue Northwest Senatorial ticket to Mrs Iveren Ukula popularly known as Queen Amina on a consensus basis as a result of her huge commitment to the coalition processes.
This newspaper gathered that Jime immediately ran to Amaechi in Abuja in company of the duo or Hembe and Gbillah but he was told by the former Rivers State governor that Ukula had been penciled down for the ticket.
However, Mr. Amaechi met with Senator David Mark for a last minute politicking but the former Senate President didn’t mince words in telling him that the ticket belongs to someone who was with them when the heat was on the coalition party.
Meanwhile, our reporter gathered that Barrister Jime recently spoke with Senator George Akume over his possible return to the stakeholders camp, but the SGF directed him to meet Abua Yajir, Mike Msuuan and Chris Tarkaa to seal the deal since he (SGF) has made up his mind to replace the current senator from the Zone.
Our investigation showed that Jime first met Yajir on his sick bed in Abuja where the so-called headboy of the SGF political family initiated a meeting between him, Msuaan and Tarkaa.
At the meeting with Msuaan and Tarkaa, Barrister Jime begged for the backing of the SGF to be able to fight whoever Governor Hyacinth Alia supports for the Benue Northwest Senatorial Zone ticket at the primaries in 2026.
According to Msuaan and Tarkaa, the SGF wants a sellable person who can fly the flag of the All Progressive Congress instead of the current senator, Dr. Titus Zam who is presently facing accusations of non performance and looting of Constituency allowances.
Also, the plan to destabilize the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia with the help of a trusted insider like Emmanuel Jime was discussed at the meeting which was held at the private residence of Senator George Akume in Danube area of Maitama, Abuja last week.
At the meeting, both Msuaan and Tarkaa tongue lashed Jime for betraying Senator George Akume and went with Governor Hyacinth Alia despite the political breathe the SGF has given him in the past..
“The duo showed him videos where he was cursing the SGF and accusing him of making plots to destabilize the Alia-led administration as a result of his greed and selfishness” a close source within the SGF political family who hinted on Jime’s imminent return to the camp told one of our reporters..
However, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Federal Housing Authority, Mr. Matthias Byuan was asked by the SGF to release funds to Barrister Jime for him to begin his consultation.
“With the funds released to him, the aspirant has started breaking grounds across Zone B and we await positive results soon” another source said..
In a related development, Barrister Emmanuel Jime is set to have another round of meeting with two members of the House of Representatives from Zone B, Mr Dickson Tarkingir and Asema Achado as well as a leader in the SGF political camp, Chief Simeo Sango as part of his consultations for the party’s ticket.