The Alia-Tinubu Campaign Council in Benue State has rejected the newly unveiled strategic alliance for Tinubu/Shettima Re-election 2027, led by George Akume. The council described the alliance as contemptuous and injurious to the fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its electioneering machinery in the state. Richard Asema, Director General of the Tinubu/Alia 2027 Campaign Council, made this known during a press briefing at the Campaign Secretariat.
Asema expressed concern over the formation of the alliance by some political individuals and groups, which was announced with a Campaign Council for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu. He described this as an act of mischief aimed at misleading the public. The council observed that the alliance includes governorship candidates of other political parties, such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), as well as officers of some minority parties.
The APC in Benue State, under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the chairmanship of Benjamin Omale, strongly rejected the purported Strategic Alliance and its Campaign Council. Asema noted that a critical look at the membership of the so-called Campaign Council reveals that some APC members, including those holding senior positions in the Federal Government, are part of the group. This includes George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation.
According to Asema, the APC in Benue State recently constituted a comprehensive Campaign Council with over 900 loyal and credible party leaders as members, which was publicly inaugurated on November 5 at the IBB Square, Makurdi. Most members of the so-called Strategic Alliance were appointed into that Council but later declared they would not participate in its activities. Asema described this as a political gimmick to sabotage Governor Alia's election in 2027.
Asema warned against any attempt to confuse party members and the people of Benue, advising APC members in the Strategic Alliance to disengage and regroup with the mainstream leadership under Governor Alia. He assured President Tinubu and Governor Alia of massive support and victory at the forthcoming polls. The APC in Benue State is confident of winning the 2027 elections with a higher margin than in 2023, citing the party's strong base and popularity in the state.
In the 2023 elections, the APC won the Governorship seat, delivered President Tinubu, and secured two of three senatorial seats, 10 of 11 House of Representatives seats, 27 out of 32 State House of Assembly seats, 23 Local Government chairmen, and all 276 elected councillors across the State. Asema attributed Governor Alia's popularity to his outstanding performance, including high-profile infrastructure projects, establishment of medium and large-scale industries, and development of education.
The Benue Strategic Alliance for Tinubu 2027 had earlier disclaimed the purported Alia Campaign structure, describing it as unauthorized and misleading. The Alliance, led by Jack Tilley-Gyado, dissociated itself from the publication and disowned any claim or suggestion that its members are associated with the Alia Campaign structure.
Key points
- The Alia-Tinubu Campaign Council rejects the Akume-led strategic alliance, citing contempt and injury to APC's election machinery in Benue State.
