Benue APC management disaster deepens as Omale, Agada commerce accusations

The management disaster throughout the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has resurfaced following the presence of former chairman Austin Agada at a latest nationwide occasion assembly in Abuja the place nationwide chairman, Abdullah Ganduje was.

Reacting to Agada’s presence on the APC nationwide assembly, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr Benjamin Omale, in a press release issued on Thursday, accused Agada of gatecrashing the occasion for publicity.

He additionally described Agada as an “imposter” who engaged in a “sneak and snap present” to create a misunderstanding of legitimacy.

The APC in Benue has been embroiled in an influence wrestle between Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

In response, the occasion’s nationwide management dissolved the Agada-led state working committee and put in a caretaker committee led by Omale.

Nevertheless, Agada challenged the choice within the Benue State Excessive Court docket, which reinstated him as chairman.

Regardless of the court docket ruling, Omale and his committee proceed to run the occasion’s affairs.

“Austin Agada now makes a speciality of sneaking wherever the APC Nationwide Chairman, Alhaji Ganduje, is holding conferences, standing behind him for a snapshot, and departing instantly,” Omale said.

He insisted that Agada was now not the occasion’s chairman, emphasizing that since his elimination, the caretaker committee had led the occasion to a landslide victory within the October 5, 2024, native authorities elections.

“It’s deeply regarding and misleading that Austin Agada has continued to parade himself because the Chairman of APC Benue State, regardless of his elimination,” Omale mentioned.

Dismissing claims of Agada’s participation within the February 11 assembly, Omale asserted: “The newest in his collection of deceptive antics is his declare of attending a strategic assembly with the APC Nationwide Management and North Central Governors.

“We want to categorically state that Austin Agada was neither invited nor was there any assembly convened that warranted his presence.”

Omale additional alleged that Agada “took pictures and is now utilizing them to mislead the general public.”

He assured occasion members that the nationwide management had been notified and measures have been being taken to forestall such occurrences sooner or later.

In a swift response, Agada refuted Omale’s claims, insisting that he stays the duly elected chairman and was formally invited to the Abuja assembly.

An announcement issued by the Agada-led faction’s Publicity Secretary, Daniel Ihomun, said: “Concerning the alleged attendance of a gathering on the Nationwide degree in Abuja, we want to state unequivocally that the Chairman was duly invited and took part within the assembly in his capability because the respectable State Chairman of the APC Benue State.

“The insinuation that he attended with out an invite just isn’t solely false but in addition a deliberate try and tarnish his repute and undermine his management.”

Ihomun additional dismissed Omale’s place, arguing that he’s not a recognised member of the occasion in Benue.

“The occasion needs to state clearly with out ambiguity that Benjamin Omale just isn’t a member of the occasion in Benue State, as his title just isn’t within the register of Onyagede-Ihaje Ward in Ohimini Native Authorities Space.

“That Workplace of Unity Committee Chairman is an unknown place within the occasion and doesn’t exist within the APC Structure 2022 as Amended,” the assertion added.