Austin Agada Tension is building up in Makurdi, Benue State capital, and its suburbs as the crisis rocking the ruling party in the state, All Progressives Congress (APC), took another dimension.
Early today, Thursday, February 1st, 2024, the suspension of the chairman of APC in Benue State, Austin Agada, was announced. The announcement has, thus far, generated concerns as it renewed the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party which was allegedly resolved by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, yesterday, Wednesday, January 31st, 2024.
The alleged ward Chairman of Ehaje Ward of Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Godwin O. Abah, signed the suspension of Austin Agada as APC State Chairman in Benue State.
Members of the party loyal to the suspended state Chairman have challenged the legitimacy of Abah to suspend the State Chairman, claiming that Abah is the current Supervisory Councilor of Works, Ogbadibo Local Government Area, who was appointed by the governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia and not the Chairman of APC in Ehaje ward from where Austin Agada hails.
Hon. Peter Onoja is claimed to be the authentic party Chairman of APC in Ehaje ward of the Ogbadibo Local Government Area, and this has been corroborated in a press statement released by Hon. Andrew Edache, the APC Chairman for Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, immediately after coming across the news of the suspension of Agada as APC Chairman in Benue State.
Speaking on the political impasse ahead of APC in Benue State and how Governor Hyacinth Alia is working hard to get Agada out of office, a stalwart of the party in Benue State, Terrence Kuanum, gave insight into the political crisis rocking Benue APC.
He said: "The petition relied upon to issue the purported suspension did not emanate from the polling unit.
"So, even if Hon. Abah was still the ward chairman of Ehaje Ward, the Ward Executive Committee of the party lacks the powers to adjudicate over a petition that did not emanate from the polling unit as clearly stated under Article 21 of the APC Constitution.
"We are not ignorant of the fact that a mercenary who has been hired to destroy himself, Daniel Onjeh, backed by Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State is behind the plot to remove Austin Agada from office.
"Recall that, a few days ago, Onjeh claimed his electoral woes in the February 25th, 2023, Benue South Senatorial election were caused by the capacity chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, Comrade Austin Agada.
"The campaign to remove Agada has been on since Agada and the hardworking State Working Committee refused to compromise the principles of the party and the local government chairmen of the APC in Benue State as well as the State Vice-Chairmen passed a vote of no confidence on the Executive Governor of Benue State, Hycinth Alia.
"The plot thickened after the governor failed to force his aide, Maurice Orwough, as the Party's candidate for the February 3rd, 2024, Guma 1 State Constituency bye-election.
"As you already know, Governor Alia has been under pressure to restore democratic rule at the local government level as he had suspended the elected local government officials that he met in office and replaced them with a caretaker committee that is unknown to the Nigerian Constitution.
"The governor's camp knows that with Agada as chairman, they will not be able to force their chosen aspirants on the party as candidates in the event the governor wants to conduct local government elections in the state as they know Agada will insist on the transparent process.
"They have referenced what happened in the Guma 1 State Constituency bye-election that has made them endorse the Labour Party for the February 3rd, 2024 Guma 1 State Constituency bye-election and have resolved to use all available means, including unconstitutional means to get Agada out of office.
"As you already know, they sponsored hoodlums yesterday to stage an anti-Agada protest at the state Secretariat of the APC in Makurdi, popularly known as Tinubu House, located at No.73 J.S Tarka Way, Makurdi.
"What happened yesterday is just one of the schemes they have marshaled out in their 'Agada must go' plot.
"I however use this opportunity to call on those after Agada to desist from their already failed mission, especially as the National Secretariat of the party yesterday came out and declared Agada as the bonafide State Chairman of the APC in Benue state.
"They should rather use their energy in bringing dividends of democracy to Benue people and also support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to fulfill the renewed hope agenda of the Tinubu administration.
"Agada's tenure as State Chairman has produced a governor, 2 Senators,10 House of Representatives members, and 21 State Assembly members, a feat that is unprecedented in the history of Benue APC.
"Comrade Agada has done extremely well and his track records are resonating with the people who are patiently waiting to reward him soon with a higher assignment or consolidate him.
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Tag: Tensions as Governor Alias Loyalist Suspends Benue APC Chairman Hours After Peace Meeting
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Published 2/1/2024 7:22:48 PM