Odita Sunday 
In what political observers have described as a masterstroke of statesmanship and strategic foresight, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of the North Central political bloc, Senator George Akume, has brokered peace among warring factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State.
The breakthrough followed a high-powered stakeholders’ meeting convened on Sunday, bringing together key political gladiators in the state, including Governor Hyacinth Alia, in a decisive move that ended years of bitter intra-party hostility.
The reconciliation effectively draws a line under a long-standing crisis that had torn the APC in Benue State apart since the aftermath of the 2023 general elections.
The crisis, largely driven by struggles over party structures and political influence, had snowballed into deep factional divisions within the ruling party in the state.
At the height of the crisis, the party was split into rival camps led by Austin Agada on one side, while another powerful bloc under former state chairman Ben Omakolo aligned with Governor Alia on the other.
The situation further degenerated in March 2026 when the factions held parallel congresses, producing different executives and plunging the party into deeper confusion and uncertainty.
However, Akume’s intervention is now being hailed as a turning point, as he reportedly deployed his political experience and influence to calm tensions and restore dialogue among the feuding blocs.
As part of the reconciliation arrangement, the SGF proposed automatic tickets for serving elected officials, including the governor and lawmakers at both national and state levels, as a peace-building mechanism.
Party sources say the initiative is aimed at reducing internal rivalry, stabilising the party structure, and repositioning the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, as well as strengthening support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
With the peace deal now sealed, stakeholders say attention has shifted to sustaining the fragile unity, with many describing Akume’s intervention as timely and crucial to restoring stability in the Benue APC and reinforcing his status as a key stabilising force in the Middle Belt political landscape.
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