Prof Moti
The outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries in Zones A & B in Benue State, in which some incumbent lawmakers reportedly lost their return tickets, represents far more than a routine electoral reshuffle.
Rather, it reflects a deeper struggle over party supremacy, grassroots legitimacy, political loyalty, and the future direction of APC politics in the state.
The primaries effectively became a referendum not only on the performance of the affected legislators but also on the intensifying rivalry between the political camps associated with Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Political developments in the APC in Benue has been sharply divided between factions loyal to Governor Alia and those aligned with Akume.
This internal division transformed the primaries into a contest over who truly controls the grassroots structures and political machinery of the party. Consequently, the defeat of several incumbent House of Representatives members can be understood within the broader context of intra-party conflict and shifting political loyalties.
At one level, the primaries may be interpreted as a rejection of what many party members perceived as political arrogance and excessive factionalism. Some of the affected lawmakers were believed to have over-aligned themselves with the Akume bloc against Governor Alia, hoping this would guarantee them automatic re-election tickets.
In the political culture of Benue State, as in much of Nigeria, political survival depends not only on maintaining close relationships with ward leaders, local stakeholders, youth groups, and ordinary party members, but with the Governors who are considered leaders of the party in the state.
Where politicians are perceived as participating in elite conspiracies or “ganging up” against a sitting governor who continues to enjoy substantial grassroots support, party delegates often respond negatively. The primaries therefore became an avenue through which party members expressed dissatisfaction with what they viewed as internal sabotage and excessive hostility toward the governor.
The outcome of the primaries also points to the growing consolidation of Governor Alia’s grassroots influence within the APC. Although the political structure associated with George Akume played an important role in the APC’s electoral victory in 2023, Governor Alia has gradually strengthened his control over local party structures and grassroots mobilization networks across the state.
The primaries appear to confirm that the governor’s political machinery has matured considerably and now commands significant influence among delegates and party stakeholders.
In this regard, the results suggest that incumbency at the federal legislative level is no longer sufficient to guarantee political survival. Rather, grassroots acceptance and alignment with prevailing political sentiments within the party have become increasingly decisive factors.
Another important dimension of the primaries is the apparent decline in the effectiveness of overdependence on political godfatherism. Some of the defeated lawmakers were perceived to have relied excessively on the influence and patronage of the SGF instead of cultivating independent political support within their constituencies and the Governor.
While political godfathers may facilitate access to office, long-term political relevance requires sustained engagement with constituents and party structures. Once a politician becomes identified merely as an appendage of a powerful patron, political vulnerability increases, especially during periods of intra-party conflict.
The Benue primaries therefore illustrate that party delegates are becoming more assertive and that elite endorsements alone can no longer guarantee renomination.
The broader implications of the primaries for Benue politics are substantial.
First, the outcome significantly strengthens Governor Alia’s political authority within the APC. It sends a strong signal that opposition to his leadership within the party may carry serious electoral consequences.
Even though there have been recent reconciliation efforts between Governor Alia and Akume, the primaries demonstrate that the governor’s camp currently possesses stronger grassroots momentum and organizational influence.
At the same time, however, the primaries may deepen internal divisions within the APC if the outcomes are not handled properly. Politicians who lost their tickets may become aggrieved and could potentially defect to rival political parties, undermine party cohesion, or collaborate with opposition forces in future elections.
Benue politics has historically been characterized by fluid alliances and shifting loyalties, and aggrieved elites often seek alternative political platforms when marginalized within their parties. The new electoral law may mitigate seeking alternative political platforms, but not electoral sabotage.
Consequently, while the primaries may be seen as a demonstration of internal accountability, they also expose the APC to the risk of further fragmentation if effective reconciliation mechanisms are not pursued.
Several important lessons emerge from the outcome of the primaries. Foremost among these is the enduring supremacy of grassroots politics.
No matter how influential political patrons may be, party delegates and grassroots members remain central to electoral outcomes whenever internal democracy is allowed to function with some degree of openness.
The primaries also underscore the importance of balancing political loyalty with strategic prudence. Legislators who become excessively involved in factional conflicts risk alienating both party members and constituents.
Furthermore, the events demonstrate that incumbency alone does not guarantee political survival. Elected officials must continuously engage with their constituencies and remain attentive to local political dynamics rather than relying solely on elite networks and federal connections.
Another important lesson is the continuing dominance of governors within Nigeria’s subnational political system. Governors exercise enormous influence over party organization, patronage distribution, grassroots mobilization, and political negotiations.
Politicians who underestimate this reality often face significant political consequences. At the same time, the primaries suggest that internal party democracy, despite its imperfections, can still serve as a corrective mechanism through which party members sanction perceived underperformance, arrogance, or political disloyalty.
Going forward, Governor Alia must avoid interpreting the outcome of the primaries as an opportunity for political triumphalism. Excessive celebration of victory could further deepen divisions within the party and weaken long-term cohesion.
Instead, the governor should pursue genuine reconciliation by accommodating differing interests within the APC, avoiding the victimization of opposing factions, and concentrating on governance and service delivery.
Similarly, the Akume camp may need to reassess its political strategy by rebuilding grassroots trust and reducing excessive dependence on elite influence and federal connections.
For the APC as a party in Benue State, the primaries underscore the urgent need to institutionalize transparent internal processes, strengthen mechanisms for conflict resolution, and discourage destructive factionalism.
Without meaningful reconciliation, the party risks undermining its own political dominance ahead of future elections.
More broadly, the primaries reinforce a timeless lesson in democratic politics: political relevance cannot be sustained merely through patronage networks or elite alignments; it ultimately depends on continuous engagement with the people and responsiveness to grassroots expectations.
The APC primaries in Benue State were not simply about replacing candidates; they represented a broader struggle over political legitimacy, party control, and grassroots power within the ruling party.
The defeat of several incumbent lawmakers appears to reflect dissatisfaction among party members with perceived factional antagonism against Governor Alia and an overreliance on the influence of the SGF, George Akume.
Ultimately, the events demonstrate that grassroots acceptance remains a critical determinant of political survival in Benue politics. They also reveal the dynamic nature of political structures, where alliances shift, loyalties evolve, and no political bloc remains permanently dominant.
The central challenge for the APC moving forward will be whether it can transform this internal contest into renewed cohesion or whether the party will descend further into factional fragmentation in the days ahead.
