By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

The Forum of APC Support Groups Leaders has alleged that opposition elements are behind the ongoing political crisis within the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

Speaking at a press conference held at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, the Director General of the Forum, Dr.

He reaffirmed the group’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Peters condemned the legal actions taken by the former Benue APC chairman, Austin Agada, against the dissolution of the state party executive, describing it as a direct challenge to the authority of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

He also criticized the role of the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, alleging that his recent actions, including the controversial relocation of the Benue State Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal to Abuja, were aimed at undermining APC leadership at both the state and national levels.

He said, “We recall that the National Working Committee of our great party, acting on the powers of the National Executive Committee (NEC), dissolved the Benue State Executive and constituted a unity caretaker committee in February 2024, bringing an end to the warring factions within the party in Benue State.

“It is a known fact that after the Caretaker Committee was inaugurated, the former state chairman, Austin Agada, went to court to challenge the powers of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the chairman of NEC, and the national chairman of our party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, over the dissolution of the Benue State chapter and the inauguration of the unity caretaker committee.

“The dissolved exco went ahead and forwarded a list of candidates to the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), challenging the leadership of the party.

“As the Forum of Support Groups Leaders, we are disappointed that the former chairman went to court to challenge the party, against the party’s constitution, which states that members must exhaust all internal mechanisms to resolve an issue before going to court. Yet, the national leadership is just watching.

“We understand that the ongoing crisis in Benue is a result of the decision of the NWC, acting on the powers of NEC, which changed the leadership of the party in Benue State. The party must intervene to defend its decision by maintaining party supremacy, as enshrined in our constitution.

“Today, the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, has clearly taken sides with the dissolved executive to undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s leadership. 

“To us, it is unacceptable because there is a clear line between justice and injustice. The Chief Justice of Nigeria should call the Benue Chief Judge to order before it is too late.

“It is now clear that there is an attempt to undermine the party’s national leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Benue State Chief Judge, who has abandoned justice for trivial sentiments.

“We strongly call on the national leadership of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to immediately intervene in the pending danger and threat to democracy in Benue State.

“We strongly observe that the Benue State Chief Judge is being used by the opposition not only to frustrate our performing government in Benue State but also as a direct attack on our amiable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

‘Therefore, our party leadership and the presidency must take a stand now before some anti-democratic forces and enemies of our party hijack the ongoing evil plot.”