The camp of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has secured a dominant victory over the faction aligned with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, in the House of Representatives primaries held across the state on Saturday.
The results were announced on Sunday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Makurdi by the Chairman of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee in Benue State, Alhaji Sabiu Mahuta.
According to the results, Ojotu Ojema, the sitting member representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, clinched the party ticket. Other winners include Terfa Ikper (Makurdi/Guma), Gideon Inyom (Buruku), Engr. Terhemba Nongo (Gwer East/Gwer West), and Professor Kohol Iormem (Kwande/Ushongo).
Others are Solomon Wombo (Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo), also a serving lawmaker; Livinus Tsar (Vandeikya/Konshisha); Dr. Peter Ogbodo (Oju/Obi); and Anthony Agom (Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu), all of whom secured the party’s nominations for the 2027 general elections.
The successful candidates are widely aligned with Governor Alia’s political camp.
On the other hand, several aspirants aligned with SGF Akume lost their bids, including Dzua Yortyom (Buruku), Dickson Tarkighir (Makurdi/Guma), Austin Achado (Gwer East/Gwer West), and Sesoo Ikpacher (Konshisha/Vandeikya).
Other serving lawmakers who also lost include Terseer Ugbor (Kwande/Ushongo) and David Ogewo (Oju/Obi).
However, the SGF’s wife, Mrs. Regina Akume, who represents Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, secured her party’s ticket.
Similarly, Blessing Onuh, representing Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency and daughter of former Senate President David Mark, also emerged victorious after defeating three other contenders.
The outcome effectively undermines earlier expectations of automatic tickets reportedly linked to internal party understandings.
Senator George Akume had previously stated at a reconciliation meeting in Makurdi that President Bola Tinubu directed that all serving federal and state lawmakers, including the governor, be granted automatic tickets.
However, Governor Alia countered the claim, insisting that the issue of automatic tickets was not within his authority or that of the SGF, adding that both the President and the APC national leadership, including Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, maintained that no aspirant would receive an automatic ticket in the primaries.
