Crisis in APC in Benue: Angry youths protest outside party secretariat

Angry youths of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State have taken over the road leading to the secretariat of the Austin Agada-led faction of the party in Makurdi, the state capital.

The disgruntled youths protesting the continued existence of the factional leadership of the party led by Agada have diverted vehicles and motorcycles to Atiku Abubakar Way and Kasim Ibrahim Road.

The repair work on the damaged section of the road forced motorists to use only one lane of the two-way road and further hampered the movement of vehicles around the secretariat.

The youths were not deterred by the presence of the security agents who were at the entrance of the deserted secretariat. They vowed not to allow any member of the faction to access the secretariat, insisting that the action of the faction was undermining Governor Hyacinth Alia.

Their action follows a meeting of the State Executive Committee, SEC, convened by the faction led by Austine Agada and scheduled for Thursday at the secretariat.

Governor Hyacinth Alia, in a statement on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, denied knowledge of the APC SEC meeting and warned those convening the meeting.

In cancelling the meeting, the governor said: “Last time I checked, I was still the APC leader in the state. No APC meeting can be convened without my knowledge.

“Furthermore, as a state security official, I should know when a legitimate gathering is supposed to take place.

“Nigeria is not a lawless state, neither is Benue State. Those who think they can undermine the authority of the state should know it and know peace.”