A group of prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains has petitioned the party's National Working Committee (NWC), demanding the suspension of former Benue State chairman Austin Agada for alleged anti-party activities. The stakeholders, under the auspices of the APC Solidarity Group, accused Agada of cross-party endorsement of Senator Abba Moro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others. The petition, dated October 2, 2026, was signed by the group's National Organising Secretary, Sa'idu Muhammad.
According to the petition, Agada, acting as leader of a prominent faction of the APC loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, in Benue State, made a highly publicised move by cross-party endorsement of PDP's Senator Abba Moro for the 2027 senatorial seat. The petition stated that Agada also printed banners of APC presidential candidate, President Bola Tinubu, and Senator Abba Moro of the PDP. This move has raised serious questions about Agada's party loyalty and compliance with the obligations expected of a senior member of the APC.
The APC Solidarity Group urged the NWC to constitute an investigative committee to look into Agada's activities and invite him to appear before it. The group also requested that a disciplinary committee be constituted to sanction Agada if found guilty and publicise his disciplinary measures to serve as a deterrent to others. The stakeholders alleged that Agada's position is contrary to the position of the governors elected on the platform of the APC, which was communicated through the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) and endorsed by the 36 state chapters of the party and the FCT.
The petition also accused Agada of involvement in the Rainbow Coalition, contrary to the interest of the party. The group noted that APC has over 12 million members and is fully prepared to win the 2027 general elections. However, Agada's activities within a group known as the Strategic Alliance for Tinubu 2027 (the Rainbow Coalition in Benue) have raised concerns about his loyalty to the party. The Rainbow Coalition is a group that opposes or undermines the APC's officially recognised political structure and its governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly candidates in Benue State.
The stakeholders stated that supporting President Bola Tinubu's 2027 presidential re-election is consistent with APC's national interest. However, support for the President should not be used as a basis for campaigning against other candidates of the APC where the party has established candidates and recognised campaign structure. The central issue before the party is whether Agada's activities amount to conduct that undermines the APC, its candidates, its structures, or its electoral interests in Benue State.
The group noted that its members across the country, particularly from Benue State, have complained consistently about Agada's activities over his open endorsement of candidates of other political parties where APC has validly nominated candidates. The stakeholders warned that the APC Benue State chapter cannot afford a situation in which senior members openly campaign for other political parties against the APC. The party's national leadership has repeatedly emphasised the importance of unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC Solidarity Group declared that the petition is borne out of loyalty and commitment to party supremacy, discipline, unity, and the collective interest of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group urged the NWC to interrogate the relevant provisions of Article 21 of the APC Constitution and determine whether Agada's activities amount to anti-party activities and are punishable under the relevant section of the party's constitution.
Key points
- APC leaders demand suspension of Austin Agada for alleged anti-party activities related to Rainbow Coalition.
- Agada accused of cross-party endorsement of Senator Abba Moro of PDP and others.
- Petition urges NWC to constitute investigative committee and disciplinary committee to sanction Agada if found guilty.
