Benue APC Peace Talks Descend Into Confusion as Alia, Akume Clash Over ‘Automatic Ticket’ Deal

A high-level reconciliation meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State ended in uncertainty on Sunday after Governor Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, presented sharply conflicting versions of what was agreed.

The closed-door meeting, held at the Government House in Makurdi, was convened to address long-standing internal divisions threatening the unity of the ruling party in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.

Tensions resurfaced shortly after the meeting when Senator Akume briefed journalists, claiming that stakeholders had agreed on “automatic tickets” for all elected APC officeholders in the state, including the governor, National Assembly members, and state legislators.

He framed the alleged agreement as a gesture aimed at promoting inclusiveness and restoring stability within the party, adding that Governor Alia’s apology during the meeting signalled progress toward reconciliation.

“We want everybody to have a place. We want inclusiveness in this party,” Akume reportedly said.

However, Governor Alia quickly countered the claim, rejecting the idea that any such agreement was reached during the meeting.

He insisted that the notion of automatic tickets was never part of the resolutions, describing it instead as a personal interpretation rather than a binding party decision.

According to him, the national leadership of the party had already made its position clear that no automatic tickets would be granted to any aspirant or officeholder.

“The resolution is beyond both of us. The President and the national chairman have said there is nothing like an automatic ticket,” Alia stated.

The governor clarified that his apology at the meeting was aimed at promoting peace and rebuilding trust within the fractured party structure.

The APC in Benue has been deeply divided for months, with an ongoing power struggle between Alia and Akume fueling parallel leadership structures and factional loyalty battles across the state.

Sunday’s meeting was widely viewed as a crucial intervention to prevent the crisis from escalating further as political calculations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Despite both leaders expressing commitment to unity, the public disagreement over key outcomes has raised fresh concerns about the effectiveness of the peace process.

Party members are now awaiting an official communiqué to clarify the true resolutions of the meeting, as conflicting narratives continue to deepen uncertainty within the state chapter of the APC.