2027: Shettima moves to reconcile Akume, Alia

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday pledged to intervene and reconcile the strained relationship between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, ahead of the 2027 elections.

Recall that two weeks ago, the renewed rivalry between the duo nearly overshadowed the 2025 Tiv Cultural Day celebration as tension, clashes and public exchanges heightened.

The crux of the matter however began barely weeks into office in May 2023 when Alia made sensitive appointments without deferring to Akume’s choices and as time went on, it spiralled into the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the state such that two factions – one headed by Comrade Austin Agada loyal to SGF and the other constituted by the party’s national secretariat headed by Benjamin Omale – had continue to exist side by side.

Shettima warned that the continued discord between both men would hurt Benue State, the North Central region and the nation at large.

He made the pledge in Makurdi while speaking at the wedding reception of the SGF’s son, Samuel and his heartthrob, Deborah.

The Vice President described Benue as “too important to be toyed with,” stressing that the federal leadership has a responsibility to step in and heal the rift between the two leaders.

“We cannot continue to allow the discord between the elder statesman, Senator George Akume, and the governor of Benue State to fester. What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us,” he said.

Earlier, Akume acknowledged the Comrade Austin Agada faction of the APC in the state as the duly elected structure of the party and enumerated his political achievements to include installing all the governors after him.

“We will continue to pray for Alia,” he added.

Governor Alia who was physically present at the event, urged the couple to live together in unity, stressing the need to support each other for positive development of the state.

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