Benue APC in crisis as Oshiomhole rejects Dickson Akoh, backs Dan Onjeh as Jime’s deputy
Adams Oshiomhole, has reportedly rejected the proposal by the
leadership of the party in Benue South to deputize its guber candidate
in the state, Emmanuel Jime with Dickson Akoh.
Akoh is the National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, whose
bill was recently thrown out by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was gathered that the APC caucus in Benue had suggested Akoh as
running mate to Jime, who recently picked the party's ticket for the
2019 governorship election in the state.
Jime, the current Managing Director of Nigeria Export Processing Zone
Authority (NEPZA), is expected to pick his deputy from the Benue South
senatorial district; either of Idoma or Igede extraction.
DAILY POST gathered that the APC caucus in Benue South had suggested
four chieftains of the party as Jime's running mate.
Among those penned down for the number two job were: Dickson Akoh of
the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Daniel Onjeh, BoT chairman, Project
Development Institute, Nelson Alapa, former Minority Whip of the House
of Representatives and Samuel Odeh, former Minister of Niger Delta
Affairs.
A source in the camp of the APC hinted this reporter that some top
shots of the party in Benue South were behind Akoh.
According to the source, the APC caucus believes that Akoh's
popularity and goodwill back home would get bloc votes for Jime in
2019.
However, George Akume, leader of the party in Benue is said to be
favouring Ode for the deputy governorship seat.
Ode's mum is said to be a native of Tiv speaking community in Benue State.
Meanwhile, leaders of the party from Igede community have insisted
that the next deputy governor of the state must come from Oju,
stressing that the immediate past governor of the state, Gabriel
Suswam, was deputized by Steve Lawani, a native of Otukpa.
Meanwhile, the APC National chairman, Oshiomohole, was said to have
kicked against Akoh's choice, stressing that he has questionable
character and not sound enough for the job.
"Oshiomohole does not want Akoh, he said they should go for Alapa or
Daniel Onjeh but the Idoma leaders want Akoh while Akume wants Ode.
So, there is serious crisis in the party as we speak.
"In fact, Oshiomhole pointedly told them to forget about Akoh because
of his questionable character. Osho Baba said Akoh is also not sound
enough for the job. Some of them have threatened to leave the party if
they impose anybody on them," the source added.
"For the Igede people, they also want the deputy governorship slot
zoned to Oju because the former deputy governor of the state, Lawani
is of the Idoma extraction.
Also, the late Prince Ogiri Ajene, who deputized Akume hailed from
Adum East in Obi Local Government Area of the state.
"Osho Baba insisted on Onjeh because he doesn't want him to go to
court over the outcome of the last senatorial primary election of the
party where he lost to Lawani.
"But Akume is also insisting that Sam Odeh should be picked.
"There is a brewing war that might implode our party," the source told
DAILY POST.
Reacting to the development, the Publicity Director of the party in
Benue, Apeh Peterhot, insisted that there was no crisis in the APC.
According to Apeh, all the people suggested were qualified to deputize Jime.
"Well, there is no crisis in the APC. We are one family and such a
thing cannot tear us apart. Akoh is qualified and has truly paid his
dues and I think he is fit for the job.
"So also every other person.
"For now, we are still consulting on that, we are yet to arrive at any
conclusion. But I can assure you that there is no crisis in the APC in
Benue," Apeh told DAILY POST.
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