A storm is brewing inside Benue’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as fresh allegations emerge against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. According to an alleged leaked account of party moves ahead of the July announcement, Akume is accused of plotting to sideline Governor Hyacinth Alia, replace elected APC candidates, and use money and alliances to reshape the 2027 ticket. The claims, if true, point to an escalating power struggle that could define the party’s fortunes in the state, writes Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka Our Consulting Editor in Abuja.
The allegations center on what sources describe as a plan to change the name of Governor Hyacinth Alia and several House of Assembly candidates who emerged from the APC primaries held in May 2026. According to the investigation, the SGF is said to have submitted an alternative list of preferred candidates for both governorship and state assembly to the APC National Working Committee through the National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwadta, ahead of the party’s official announcement.
The account claims that Akume held a late-night meeting at his Maitama, Abuja residence with Prof. Yilwadta and the party’s National Secretary. At the meeting, he allegedly insisted that Governor Alia must not be announced as the APC governorship candidate in Benue. The preferred candidate, according to the report, is Mr. Pius Akutah, the embattled Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council. Akume is alleged to have forwarded Akutah’s name to the NWC as his choice for the 2027 gubernatorial ticket.
The report recalls that Governor Alia won the May 2026 APC governorship primary with 367,786 votes, far ahead of Terwase Orbunde who polled 3,247 votes. The contrast with the alleged replacement list has fueled the controversy. The allegations also draw in personal connections. Akutah is said to be backed by Queen Zaynab Ngohemba, whom Akume married earlier this year. The report further claims Akutah funded the SGF’s marriage ceremony with funds from the Nigerian Shippers Council.
At a separate engagement with the Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji Ojo present, Akume was quoted as saying he would not “fold his arms and allow the governor take charge of Benue State for another four years.” Beyond the governorship, the SGF is alleged to have submitted 20 names for House of Assembly seats to the National Chairman, with instructions that they be adopted as APC candidates.
Sources say the list covers Benue North-West, the Sankera axis, and parts of Benue South, while leaving Jechira and parts of Benue South, including Otukpo, to Governor Alia. The strategy, according to the account, is to dominate the Assembly and use it to “undermine and frustrate” the governor if he secures the ticket with backing from the Presidency.
A second option alleged is to field weak APC assembly candidates to hand PDP a majority, thereby creating a legislative check on a second Alia term. The report also claims Akume has influence over 60% of PDP assembly candidate selection in the state. The claims extend to the Senate. Akume is said to have replaced Governor Alia’s preferred senatorial candidate, Sen. Gabriel Suswam, who reportedly enjoys broad support across Benue, with another nominee.
A source quoted in the report warned that denying the governor input on Senate and House of Representatives candidates could weaken his reelection bid, which the source said is exactly what the SGF wants. The allegations also touch on federal legislative tickets. Akume is said to have replaced his estranged wife, Regina Akume, with his younger brother, Godwin Dajoh, for the Gboko/Tarka House of Representatives ticket, allegedly at the instance of his new wife.
The report further claims Akume planted loyalists across other parties in May, naming Michael KAASE Aondoakaa in PDP, Mathias Byuan in Labour Party, and Prof. Sabastine Hon, SAN in SDP, in coordination with former Governor Samuel Ortom. Financial claims are also raised. The report alleges that N1 billion was earmarked for the candidate-list project, with N500 million paid in dollars to Prof. Yilwadta and a balance of N500 million expected. It also alleges N500 million was used to influence the Benue National Assembly list.
The background to the rift is also detailed. Shortly after Alia assumed office in 2023, Akume is alleged to have proposed monthly payments of N2 billion to himself and N300 million to his wife, Regina, from state allocations. The report says Alia rejected it, insisting state funds should be used for development.
18. An advocacy group, Benue for Good Governance, has now called on President Bola Tinubu to review the released National Assembly list. In a statement by its Secretary, Dr. Philemon Unongo, the group said the current list could hurt the President’s chances in Benue and urged a return to the original list of locally elected candidates.
Note: These are allegations contained in an investigative account. They remain unverified and all named individuals are presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
