Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Nigerian Concord Newspaper can authoritatively report how the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume planted some of his loyalists to mix up with the political camp of Governor Hyacinth Alia ahead of the planned congresses of the All Progressive Congress. They are returning to the governor’s camp as prodigal sons.
This newspaper gathered that the reason for this development is to ensure that the governor doesn’t take full control of the party structure from the Ward to the State levels in the coming congresses.
Recall that there is a running battle between Governor Hyacinth Alia and Senator George Akume over who controls the structure of the party in Benue state.
This however led to the dissolution of the Austin Agada-led State Executive committee , and the inauguration of the present Unity Caretaker Committee led by Chief Benjamin Omale by the immediate past national chairman of the party, Alhaji Umar Ganduje.
Recently, an announcement was made from the governor’s camp that some members of the opposition parties would be decamping to the ruling party from last weekend.
These decampings are coming ahead of the planned nationwide congresses and national convention of the All Progressive Congress.
According to sources, sensing that he wouldn’t be able to wrestle the structure of the party in Benue state with Governor Hyacinth Alia, the SGF reportedly moved his loyalists from some local governments to join the defection under the pretense of returning to join the Governor’s political camp.
Prominent among Akume’s loyalists that have been planted to cause troubles within the governor’s camp is Mr. Dave Awunah who was recently assisted by the SGF to become the chairman of Boys Scout Club.
Other loyalists of Senator George Akume from Ogbadibo local government that have also been planted in the governor’s camp are Hon. Eloyi Enekele, Comrade Joseph John (Jay-Jay), and Hon. Sunday Ojo who is a former Chairman of the local government.
Sources said that Akume needs to plant moles in Governor Alia’s camp so as to make it difficult for the governor to take full control of the party structure in the state during the next congresses.
A top APC elder in Benue state who spoke with this newspaper under the condition of anonymity said: “As you know, it’s he who controls the party structure that will present candidates for the party in the 2027 elections, and as it stands today, Governor Alia seems to be in full control of the party and this might give him an upper hand to hijack the structure again and control the delegates of the party for all the primaries that will produce candidates in the 2027 elections.
“This is why the people around Senator George Akume advised him to ask his people within the Alia administration to remain and pretend that they are with the governor. He was also advised to ask some of his loyalists from some local governments to return to the Governor’s camp like prodigal sons so that they too can hijack the party structure for the SGF in their various local governments.
“If the governor isn’t careful and he allows the moles that have been planted in his circle to take charge of the party, there will be a serious problem for him as that is the last joker for the SGF, and he is playing it neatly now”
Another source who spoke about the development said that the governor should ask himself why Awunah who is one of the biggest beneficiaries of Senator George Akume’s benevolence suddenly developed love and interest for him (Alia)