Benue South 2019: APC in cold war over David Mark’s successor; it’s a lie – Party’s spokesman

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Benue State chapter has been engulfed with crisis following the alleged secret endorsement of Steven Lawani, a senatorial aspirant by Senator George Akume, a former governor of the state.

Akume, sources said had met with some aspirants on the platform of the APC from Benue South, otherwise known as Zone C to step down for Lawani, 70.

Lawani served as the deputy governor of Benue State between 2007 and 2015.

Before then, Lawani, a native of Otukpa had gunned for the office of the governor but failed to pick the ticket in 2017.

According to insiders, Akume, who is believed to be the leader of APC in Benue had hinged his reason for endorsing Lawani on the fact that the Otukpa-born politician had huge support back home unlike the other candidates.

At the moment, other aspirants on the platform of the APC are Mike Okiba Onoja and Hassan Saleh.

Akume’s position angered many of the aspirants who stormed out of the meeting and threatened to join other parties.

According to the source, the aspirants and some few party leaders from Benue South wondered why Akume had decided to meddle into Benue South politics, leaving his zone.

Speaking on the development, Josephine Akiyomen, Coordinator, Idoma People of Nigeria, IPN, warned Akume to steer clear Benue South politics.

He accused Akume of trying to create war among aspirants from Benue South.

She said, “As no external entity influences or anoints Akume for the Senate for zone B so would no external entity anoint any Senate candidate for Zone C. No such candidate will ever reap electoral victory in a zone that prides itself in taking matters into its own hands.

“Note, however, that as far as APC is right now concerned, Akume has found himself, by virtue of the hijacked state Congress of the party, in a titular position (after all he calls himself “the Oracle”) to anoint Senatorial candidates for Zone A and C. It is why he is using that structure and mechanism in Zone C to foist ” the food is ready” decampee from the PDP and his business partner on the APC to the exclusion of the bonafide builders of the party. We must resist this.

“Well, Zone C loves its independence. Zone C hates the meddling of an external entity in its affair. It is never going to make the mistake of allowing Akume to gain a foothold into its affairs through his Manchurian candidate.

“We remember how he took the Secretary to the state government away from zone C with his argument in July 2015 that Zone C didn’t vote for APC.

“Now by virtue of his hijacking of the APC he wants to decide who is senator for Zone C?

“Not going to happen. No external entity has ever successfully decides who Zone C vote for. We decide for ourselves. It is, I repeat, never going to happen.

“Even Zone A is gearing up for independence. They, too got the short end of the stick from Akume led governing coalition.”

When contacted, Apeh Peter, Publicity Director of the party on Tuesday accused the Peoples Democratic Party of sponsoring the claim.

Apeh claimed the party was using the gimmicks as sentiment to garner votes in 2019.

He said, “I haven’t heard any official report as such from our leader, Akume. You know Senator Akume is the leader of Benue APC and has always allowed a level playing ground for all aspirants in the State.

“To think that he has endorsed Chief Stephen Lawani in Zone C is a fabrication of the opposition who think they can gain electoral hit points from peddling such lies against Lawani or Akume. They fan the ambers of hate among the Idoma versus Tiv to gain relevance.

“Please do not mind them. They are serial failures whose stay in the senate for almost 20 years have nothing to offer but rather kept the zone in perpetual poverty. Thank you.”