The All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, in Benue State, on Tuesday, returned Comrade Austin Agada as the State Chairman, for another tenure of four years.
The Congress, which was well attended by APC stakeholders across the 23 local government areas of the state, has one, out of the two Senators from the State; nine, out of the eleven House of Representatives Members from the State; several House of Assembly members; the Second Republic Senator, Jack Gyado, former Minister of State for Health and former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, among others.
Aside the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who monitored the Congress held at the state capital, Makurdi; the representatives of various security agencies also observed the State Congress, where Agada was affirmed State Chairman.
Agada is believed to have emerged through the structure of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
Meanwhile, the faction loyal to the State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, also held their state congress in Makurdi, where Benjamin Omale was announced as state Chairman.
Delivering his acceptance speech, Comrade Agada, thanked the supporters for the peaceful conduct of the Congress and for the opportunity to have his executive serve again.
He said, “In 2022, when you gave us the mandate to lead you, we assured you that the APC, which was then the opposition party, would be brought to power, which we did.
“Throughout, you did not betray us despite your suffering to build this party, and now that you have renewed our tenure, we will not disappoint you.
“We will stand on the unity of the party as laid down by our leader, the SGF, and we will work hard to ensure the return of our president, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as those who are on our side.”
Reacting, the Benue NASS APC Caucus commended the emergence of Comrade Agada as the State Chairman, saying, “the mandate of the people, given freely in 2022 has been reaffirmed”.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after the Congress, the Spokesperson of the Caucus and Member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Hon. Philip Agbese, congratulated Agada and his State executive, urging them to continue to keep faith with the party, under the leadership of Senator Akume, appreciating them for standing firm with the APC, despite their sufferings and ordeals in the state since 2023.
“Today, we congratulate Comrade Austin Agada and his State EXCO for emerging once again. We must also appreciate the entire Congress for believing in the Agada-led executive. Despite their sufferings and all they have passed through in Benue State since 2023, they chose to remain steadfast and committed to the original structure of the party.
“No doubt, this is the structure of the party AC, that metamorphosed into the ACN and finally, the APC in 2013.
We are happy that, 13 years after, the APC is still strong under the leadership of Senator George Akume, who led the party from the shackles of wretched opposition to becoming the ruling Party in Benue State and Nigeria.
“We therefore, urged the newly elected executive, and indeed, the entire membership of our dear party, to keep on supporting our father, Senator Akume, and in hand-in-hand with him, we shall all return our dear President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and our Members in the National Assembly and State Assembly, come 2027”, Agbese said on behalf of the NASS Caucus.
