By Amos Aar
AS THE 2027 general elections gradually draw near, political alignments and undercurrents within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State are beginning to attract public attention.
The state, regarded as one of the strongholds of the ruling party in the North Central geopolitical zone, boasts several prominent figures at both the state and federal levels. Among them are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia; the Executive Director, Finance and Accounts, Federal Housing Authority, Dr. Mathias Byuan; the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Barr. Pius Akuta; Ambassador Terhemen Tarzoor, the 2027 Tinubu Campaign State Coordinator, many serving senators and House of Representatives members, amongst others.
“But if you want to sell a burger, you shouldn’t pull out the meat in it. Don’t sell the bread alone. The burger must go with the bread. So, when you sell Tinubu and you choose to de-market Alia, who then is more ‘Tibunised’ than Alia? These are very pertinent questions that are demanding answers”, he added.
Despite this formidable list of political heavyweights, there are growing concerns that internal disunity may threaten the APC’s cohesion and its capacity to mobilise votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Benue State.
The apparent friction between Akume and Alia, the two leading forces within the party, has continued to define its internal politics. While Ambassador Tarzoor aligns with Governor Alia’s camp, Dr. Byuan is widely perceived as loyal to the Akume bloc – a division that appears to be widening rather than healing.
The rift came to public view recently when the Benue State Urban Development Board demolished a building said to be a campaign office established by Dr. Byuan in Makurdi and branded as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) support group office.
The incident, which caused heated reactions, raised questions about coordination within the Tinubu campaign structure in the state and the legitimacy of the office in question.
When Tarzoor addressed journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) House in Makurdi on Monday, he distanced himself from the demolished office, saying he had no prior knowledge of its existence. He subtly questioned the motives behind Byuan’s move, suggesting that some individuals in the party were attempting to promote Tinubu while undermining Governor Alia.
“I want to tell you that the aspect of Tinubu campaign office 2027 is a good ground. Everybody wants to sell, and you can’t stop people from selling this brand,” Tarzoor said.
“But if you want to sell a burger, you shouldn’t pull out the meat in it. Don’t sell the bread alone. The burger must go with the bread. So, when you sell Tinubu and you choose to de-market Alia, who then is more ‘Tibunised’ than Alia? These are very pertinent questions that are demanding answers”, he added.
Tarzoor dismissed insinuations that the demolition was politically-motivated, noting that the Ministry of Works and Urban Development was within its powers to act if the structure violated building regulations. “If there is commotion, the Ministry knows what to do if a building stands on the right of way. As far as I know, there is no secretariat yet,” he maintained.
Tarzoor further assured that he would establish an official and properly coordinated campaign secretariat for Tinubu in Benue State, one that would reflect unity and spread across the 23 LGAs down to the ward levels.
Tarzoor’s remarks reflect the delicate balance the APC must strike to maintain both loyalty to the President and harmony within the state chapter.
For a party that controls the state government and enjoys strong representation at the federal level, internal wrangling could undermine its prospects in 2027 if left unresolved.
As things stand, Tinubu’s political fate in Benue may depend less on the strength of opposition parties and more on how effectively the APC can reconcile its internal factions.
The coming months will reveal whether party leaders can close ranks in time to deliver a united front—or if division will once again shape the state’s political landscape.
