Benue Attack: Apologise to Peter Obi – APC Tells Governor Alia

‎A faction of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has demanded an apology from Governor Hyacinth Alia over the attack and blockade of the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, during his visit to the state.APC party merchandise

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‎This was just as the party said the incident, which occurred on Tuesday as Obi travelled towards Makurdi, was on of damaging the image of the APC and should not be allowed to become associated with the party.

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‎The APC also called on Alia to tender apology to Obi, President Bola Tinubu, the people of Benue State and the party over the incident.

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‎Obi had visited Benue to sympathise with families and communities affected by the Yelwata massacre when his movement was reportedly obstructed by suspected political thugs.

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‎Politics Nigeria understands that The triggered accusations and counter-accusations, with the state government faulting Obi for allegedly failing to notify it of his visit.

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‎The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, said the government was not informed about the visit, while the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, had earlier expressed doubts about Obi’s planned visit and maintained that Alia did not patronise thugs.

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‎But the APC faction loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, rejected the development, describing the reported attack as inconsistent with Benue’s culture of hospitality.

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‎The party’s state publicity secretary, Daniel Ihomun, made the position known in a statement issued on Wednesday.

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‎Ihomun said Obi’s visit should have been treated with respect, particularly because he was in the state to identify with victims of a deadly tragedy.

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‎“This is not Benue. This is not our culture. And this is not the APC. Mr Peter Obi came to Benue in a moment of grief to identify with victims of one of the most painful tragedies suffered by our people at the hands of armed Fulani herdsmen,” the statement said.

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‎The party accused the Alia administration of authorising or sponsoring the alleged deployment of thugs, describing the development as an unacceptable display of political intolerance.

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‎It urged members of the Igbo community in Benue not to interpret the incident as a reflection of the APC’s position ahead of the 2027 elections.

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‎According to the party, the alleged emergence of political violence under the Alia administration was alien to the state’s political history and should not be used to turn the Igbo community against the APC.

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‎The party further defended its record on political violence, saying it had worked to dismantle political thuggery after assuming power in Benue in 2015.

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‎“The APC will not be lectured on thuggery. When our party assumed office in 2015 through the mandate of Benue people, we worked to restore peace and dismantle the culture of political thuggery that had taken root in the state,” it said.

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‎The party also pledged that it would not deploy violence or intimidation in its campaign for the 2027 elections, insisting that it would seek victory through its structures, persuasion and the ballot

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‎“We will win through the people, through our structures, through persuasion and through the ballot box. Whoever believes that intimidation and violence can secure political power in 2027 is living in the past,” the statement added.

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‎The APC consequently urged Alia to publicly distance his administration from the incident and tender an apology to all parties affected.

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‎“Governor Hyacinth Alia must therefore apologise to Mr Peter Obi, apologise to our peace-loving President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the good people of Benue State and apologise to the APC for conduct that has the potential to bring the party into disrepute.

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‎“Political differences are legitimate, political violence is not. Benue deserves better,” the party stated.

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