Jubilation in Benue as APC re-elects Agada state president

Jubilation in Benue as APC re-elects Agada state president

…NASS Caucus supports move, rallies behind Tinubu

The report states that the original structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, on Tuesday, returned comrade Austin Agada as the state president, for another four-year term.

The Congress, which was attended by numerous APC stakeholders across the 23 local government areas of the State, has one of the two Senators in the State; nine, of the eleven members of the House of Representatives, come from the State; several members of the House of Assembly; Second Republic Senator Jack Gyado, former Assistant Minister of Health and former Ambassador of Nigeria to Switzerland, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, among others.

Apart from officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who monitored the Congress held in the state capital, Makurdi; representatives of various security bodies also attended the State Congress, where Agada was declared President of the State.

Agada is believed to have emerged through the structure of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr. George Akume.

Meanwhile, the faction loyal to the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, also held its state convention in Makurdi where Benjamin Omale was announced as the state president.

In his acceptance speech, Comrade Agada thanked supporters for the peaceful conduct of the Congress and for the opportunity to have his executive back in office.

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.

“You did not betray us despite your suffering to build this party, and now that you have renewed our mandate, we will not disappoint you.

“We will uphold the unity of the party as set out by our leader, the SGF, and work hard to ensure the return of our President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as those on our side.”

Reacting, the Benue NASS APC Caucus lauded the emergence of Comrade Agada as the State President, saying “the mandate of the people, freely given 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 maintain faith in the party, under the leadership of Senator Akume, appreciating them for remaining loyal to the APC, despite sufferings and trials 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 been through in Benue State since 2023, they have chosen to remain steadfast and committed to the original structure of the party.

“No doubt, this is the structure of the AC party, which transformed into ACN and finally APC in 2013. We are happy that 13 years later, APC is still strong under the leadership of Senator George Akume, who led the party from the shackles of miserable opposition to become the ruling party in Benue State and Nigeria.

“We have therefore urged the newly elected Executive, and indeed, the entire membership of our dear party, to continue to support our father, Senator Akume, and, hand in hand with him, we will all return our dear President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and our members in the National Assembly and the State Assembly, in 2027,” Agbese said on behalf of the NASS Caucus.