Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Ahead of Tuesday’s State Congress of All Progressive Congress in Benue state, the Southern leaders of the party in the state have reportedly rejected the choice of Mr. Benjamin Omakolo as the next state chairman of the party.
According to sources who were privy to the outcome of a meeting held at the weekend in Otukpo by the APC leaders from the Southern part of the state, the caucus members also reportedly endorsed the choice of Chief Benjamin Omale as the substantive chairman of the party.
Recall that Omale was unanimously appointed by the National Working Committee of the party as the chairman of the party in Benue state as a way to prevent factions in the party shortly after a leadership crisis began between Governor Hyacinth Alia and Senator George Akume.
According to sources, Omakolo was rejected by the Southern leaders who said that his planned return will downplay the capability of the party in the state.
They stated that Omakolo who once served as a factional chairman of All Progressive Congress in Benue state did not make any move to reconcile all the aggrieved camps during the time he was in office. They accused him of inability to bring unity to the party .
Adopting Omale, the caucus cited his achievements as acting state chairman, enumerating how he used his office to conduct the most credible local government primaries and main elections in the state.
They also lauded Omale for standing by the party throughout the litigations that followed the local government elections that were conducted by the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission.
They also stated that Omale has been able to use his office to bring reconcilation and unity into the ruling party.
Finally, they stated his resolve to support the party for it to be victorious in the forthcoming 2027 general elections as a major reason he should be returned as the state chairman of the party..