I remain Benue APC chairman, says Omale

• Accuses Agada of attention-seeking

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Benue State, Dr. Benjamin Omale, has accused his predecessor, Mr. Austin Agada, of engaging in sneak and snap show to gain unnecessary recognition before the public.

Chief Omale was reacting to photographs making the rounds on social media where the former Chairman Austin Agada was seen with the APC national chairman Alh Abdullahi Ganduje, urpotedly taken at a party event.

In a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen, in Makurdi, Omale said the former chairman now specializes in sneaking anywhere the APC national chairman is holding meetings to stand behind him take a snapshot and depart immediately.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman in the statement assured party members in the state that Mr. Agada was no longer the chairman of the party in the state after he was “relieved of his position, and in his place, the APC National leadership inaugurated a duly constituted Caretaker Committee, which I, Dr. Benjamin Omale have been leading.

“And Since our inauguration, we have successfully steered the party’s affairs, culminating in a landslide victory in the October 5, 2024 Local Government Council elections conducted by BSIEC. The party has remained strong, united, and fully functional under our leadership.

“It is therefore deeply concerning and deceptive that Austin Agada has continued to parade himself as the Chairman of APC Benue State, despite his removal.

“The latest in his series of misleading antics is his claim of attending a strategic meeting with the APC National Leadership and North Central Governors on February 11, 2025.

“We wish to categorically state the that Austin Agada was neither invited nor was there any meeting convened that warranted his presence.

“Normally, when a meeting of North Central Governors is convened, some State Party Chairmen accompany their Governors. Due to an unavoidable engagement, I was unable to attend and had duly informed our Governor and leader, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia.”

Dr. Omale alleged that Mr. Agada got into the venue of the meeting, “took photographs, and is now using them to mislead the public. Such acts should not be tolerated.

“The Governor of Benue State was not accompanied by Austin Agada, nor did he acknowledge him in any capacity at their meeting.”

He urged members of the APC to remain calm and assured that “we are fully in charge. We have already notified the National Leadership of this anomaly, and steps are being taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

“I appreciate the unwavering support of our party members, the APC National Leadership, and our visionary leader, Governor Hyacinth Alia, in ensuring peace, unity, and progress within the APC in Benue State. We remain committed to strengthening the party and delivering on our collective mandate.”

Efforts to reach the erstwhile chairman, Mr Austin Agada, for comment were not successful as he did not answer calls made to his phone.