A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Barrister Napoleon Otache, has warned the party that it risks losing the 2027 governorship election if Governor Hyacinth Alia emerges as its candidate, citing alleged internal divisions and concerns over the governor’s political standing.
Fresh cracks have emerged within the Benue State chapter of the APC after party chieftain Barrister Napoleon Otache urged the party’s leadership to reconsider Governor Hyacinth Alia’s candidacy ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Otache argued that retaining Alia as the party’s flag bearer could cost the APC the state, warning that unresolved internal disagreements continue to weaken the party’s electoral prospects.
Speaking in an interview, Otache claimed that Governor Alia has lost significant political goodwill and alleged that many party stakeholders remain dissatisfied with the administration’s handling of internal party affairs.
He maintained that the APC should present another governorship candidate if it hopes to retain power in Benue in 2027.
Otache further alleged that the prolonged rift between camps loyal to Governor Alia and those aligned with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, continues to threaten party unity despite reconciliation efforts.
The APC in Benue has experienced months of internal disagreements over party leadership, candidate selection and control of political structures.
Although President Bola Tinubu and senior party leaders have reportedly encouraged reconciliation between the opposing factions, observers say tensions remain visible as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has not publicly responded to Otache’s latest remarks, and the APC has not announced any decision regarding its governorship ticket for 2027.
Otache urged the APC leadership to prioritise unity and electability when choosing its governorship candidate, warning that failure to address the party’s internal divisions could hand victory to the opposition.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Benue State Government nor the APC national leadership had issued an official response to his comments.
The latest warning underscores the continuing political tensions within the Benue APC as the countdown to the 2027 elections continues. Political analysts believe how the party manages its internal disputes and candidate selection process could significantly influence its chances of retaining control of the state.