Benue State Governor Fr. Hyacinth Alia has said there would be no automatic ticket for those seeking re-election.
The governor made the indication after a peace and reconciliation meeting at his instance at the New Banquet Hall of Government House, Makurdi. Both factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state – one backed by the Governor and the other by Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) – met on Sunday, May 3, to reconcile their differences.
Fr. Alia was asked if the meeting agreed that members of the State Assembly, National Assembly, and the Governor should be handed automatic tickets, and he said, “I think that is beyond both of us (himself and Senator Akume).
According to the governor, it is the position of the APC, the president, and the party’s National Chairman, “that there is not going to be an automatic ticket.”
He said the decision to support re-election candidates rests with the people of the state (who voted them into office).
“It is within the people to think deeply to see how they can support those who are serving currently. It is for the citizenry to see if they can bring these people back,” the governor said.
He explained that the Sunday meeting was convened at his instance “to reconcile the aggrieved members and go back to the basis of our friendship and partnerships and to work for the progress and development of APC in Benue State.”
Fr. Alia said he had to apologise to the aggrieved members on behalf of every member of APC in the state because it is “directional, responsibility, deliberate, giving leadership. As I said earlier, if we work together, we will make Benue a better place.
“If we do not mend fences, if we do not bring back the warring parties, then it’s not good leadership.”
Senator Akume, however, is disposed to automatic tickets for all those who won elections on the APC platform.
He said, “We have to support Alia” for a second term.
Both leaders had a closed-door meeting just before returning to the peace meeting.
It could be recalled that the 2026 Electoral Act allows only two forms of nominating candidates: Direct primary election and consensus.
