By Francis Atume, Makurdi
The Benue Strategic Alliance for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 has fired back at the Director-General of the Tinubu/Alia 2027 Campaign Council, Richard Asema, over his accusation that the Alliance is plotting to sabotage President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, describing the claim as unfortunate, misleading and politically counterproductive.
The Alliance in a statement by its Director-General, Akange Audu, released to journalists at the weekend in Makurdi, described the attempt to portray it as an enemy of the President simply because it accommodates estranged APC members and stakeholders from other political parties as unacceptable.
Audu, who said the Alliance primary objective is to mobilise support for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, emphasized that nothing should be done to undermine that commitment as the Alliance is neither a political party nor a faction seeking to take over the APC, but a political lobby and mobilisation platform established to provide a common political home for estranged APC members who have been pushed out of the party’s mainstream political structure under Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, alongside stakeholders from other political parties and groups who share a common commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election.
“These individuals have chosen to organise themselves and find political expression through a platform dedicated to supporting the President. They are not fighting to reclaim positions within the APC, nor are they competing with Governor Alia for control of the party. They are comfortable with their present political arrangement and simply demand the freedom to participate in the collective effort to deliver President Tinubu in 2027,” Audu said.
He insisted that it is important to distinguish between supporting President Tinubu and supporting Governor Alia, which according to him are two different political choices, arguing that one should not be made a condition for the other especially under a democratic government where electorates are free to chose who they want should lead them.
“The Alliance believes that President Tinubu’s re-election should be treated as a broader national political project capable of accommodating diverse political interests, including individuals and groups who may not share Governor Alia’s political preferences,” he said.
Audu also disclosed that the membership and support base of the Alliance include elected APC executive council members at the state, local government and ward levels, whose structures were unilaterally dissolved by Governor Alia, explaining that its supporters also include the three senators representing Benue State, ten members of the House of Representatives and several members of the Benue State House of Assembly.
He said the Alliance further accommodates party members, opinion leaders and political stakeholders who played significant roles in Governor Alia’s emergence in the 2023 elections, adding that these are individuals who, despite their loyalty to the APC, have remained committed supporters of Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Leader of Benue Politics.
The Director – General, described members of the Strategic Alliance as significant political forces whose commitment to President Tinubu should be welcomed and encouraged, rather than condemnation, or subjected to political intimidation, adding that the Alliance has already demonstrated its organisational capacity by establishing a Tinubu/Shettima 2027 Joint Campaign Council with over 1,000 members drawn from estranged APC members, stakeholders from other political parties and various support groups with more people still identifying with the platform.
He faulted the Alia-led campaign machinery for choosing to portray the Alliance as a threat, rather than recognising the development as an opportunity to strengthen President Tinubu’s support base in Benue State, questioning why an organisation mobilising thousands of people for President Tinubu would suddenly be viewed in negative perspective simply because it does not subscribe to Governor Alia’s political interests .
Audu who described as unfortunate the attempt to use President Tinubu’s re-election as an instrument of political blackmail, insisted that the Alliance political convictions, associations and organisational choices deserve respect, advising that if the Governor and his campaign team believe they possess the political strength and structures to deliver the President, they should concentrate on their own campaign, while
the Alliance be allowed to mobilise its members and pursue its objectives without intimidation, unfounded accusations or attempts to discredit its leadership.
He said the Tinubu/Alia 2027 Campaign Council must understand that political support cannot be imposed through threats, propaganda or public accusations, adding that its claim to have over 900 members should encourage it to demonstrate its strength through democratic engagement and political mobilisation rather than attacking another organisation with the same objective of supporting the President.
“President Tinubu needs every genuine support base available to him in Benue State. The existence of different mobilisation platforms should be seen as an opportunity to expand his electoral fortunes, not as a source of division. Political differences over the governorship election should not be allowed to undermine the collective objective of securing the President’s re-election,” he said.
It advised the Tinubu/Alia 2027 Campaign Council to Stop the political blackmail and allow the group to work for the president, reiterating that the Alliance is not jostling for positions in the APC, neither are they seeking to take over the party’s structures, pointing out that the group have chosen its platform and political direction to contribute its quota to victory of the president.
He advised the governor and his supporters to go ahead and deliver the president if they believe they have the capacity, but should also allow them to mobilise their structures and demonstrate their capacity.
Audu who said President Tinubu needs more supporters, wider mobilization not unnecessary political hostility and gatekeeping, advised that those genuinely working for the presidents re-election should be encouraged to do so, irrespective of their political differences with the state government.
The Strategic Alliance D/G, also appealed that the group be allowed the freedom to work for Mr president as Benue people are anxiously waiting to decide his victory through the ballot.
