Tension Escalates In Benue APC As Otache Sounds Alarm Over Alia–Akume Battle For Control

Speaking during an interview on ARISE Television, Otache said the internal crisis persists despite recent reconciliation attempts, warning that tensions are still rising ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s recent intervention only highlighted the depth of the division, as both camps reportedly issued conflicting accounts after separate engagements with party stakeholders.

Otache argued that the ongoing dispute stems more from poor leadership and political mismanagement than from a struggle for power.

He said, “The political atmosphere in Benue State is hotter than the atmosphere in Iraq and Iran. There has never been peace in the Benue APC right from 2023 to date.

“The SGF briefed the stakeholders… but the Governor also briefed the media with a contrary and conflicting report.

“The crisis… is largely due to inexperience on the part of certain players.”

He further criticised Governor Alia’s approach to party leadership, saying his lack of prior political experience has worsened divisions within the APC in the state.

According to him, the Governor’s style of governance has deepened internal cracks and weakened unity within the party structure.

“He has never contested even for a councillor. As a leader… your heart must be as large as the Atlantic Ocean to accommodate diverse views,” he added.

Otache also accused the Governor of sidelining established party structures and disregarding court rulings relating to APC’s internal disputes in Benue State.

He claimed that several reconciliation efforts, including interventions linked to national party leaders and even the President, have not yielded results.

“There was a valid court ruling… nullifying his action. The President directed… but the Governor also threw that away,” he said.

“If the cracks are not mended before the 2027 election, the unimaginable may happen to the party.”

He warned that the lingering crisis is already affecting governance in the state, describing the current administration’s performance as below expectations.

“Governance in Benue State is at the lowest ebb. The party is not together as we speak,” he stated.

Otache concluded that without urgent reconciliation, the APC in Benue risks deeper fragmentation and possible electoral setbacks in 2027.