A political pressure group, Benue Democratic Advocates (BDA), on Saturday alleged a plot by some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stage a parallel state congress and announce the suspension of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia.
Addressing journalists in a statement dated March 1, 2026, and signed by its President, Comrade Onazi Otokpa, and Secretary, Hon. Mdueter Adekaa, the group accused former state APC chairman, Austin Agada, and unnamed Abuja-based politicians of spearheading the alleged move.
The group claimed that a meeting was held in Abuja on February 28, 2026, where plans were allegedly finalised to convene a parallel APC State Congress and subsequently declare the suspension of the governor and other key members of the party structure in the state.
According to the BDA, the organisers of the purported meeting also resolved to invite selected journalists and security personnel to give legitimacy to what it described as an illegal gathering, after which a statement would be issued announcing the suspension of the governor.
Describing the alleged move as a “desperate attempt to destabilise the state,” the group maintained that any plan to suspend the governor outside the recognised structures of the party would fail.
The BDA said Benue State was enjoying “peace, democratic stability and measurable development” under Alia’s leadership and warned against actions capable of undermining unity within the party.
The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to caution political appointees from the state against what it termed divisive tendencies within the APC.
It also urged the APC National Working Committee, led by Nentawe Yilwatda, to take disciplinary action against any member found to be working against the unity and stability of the party in Benue.
The BDA reaffirmed its support for Governor Alia, insisting that he remains the leader of the APC in Benue State, and called on party faithful to remain calm and united ahead of the party’s state congress.
Efforts to obtain comments from Agada and the APC leadership on the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.