2027: Automatic Tickets For Politicians May Affect APC’s Fortunes In Benue – Alia

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has warned that granting automatic re-election tickets to incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) office holders could trigger internal divisions and provoke voter resistance by undermining the state’s established tradition of rotational leadership.

The governor’s position was conveyed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, while responding to questions from journalists in Makurdi on Thursday, over an alleged presidential directive granting automatic tickets to elected APC office holders seeking re-election in the state.

Kula explained that Alia questioned the reported directive because of its apparent conflict with Benue’s political culture, where zoning and rotation of elective offices have traditionally influenced candidate selection and voter decisions.

He stated that if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had indeed issued the directive, as alleged, it could mean that the President had been given inaccurate information about Benue’s political practices and the expectations of its electorate.

The alleged presidential directive has not been independently verified.

Describing the arrangement as “self-defeating,” Kula warned that disregarding zoning agreements and rotational principles could generate resentment among party members and voters, ultimately weakening the APC’s electoral prospects in the state.

He traced the influence of rotational leadership in Benue politics to the Tiv principle of “ya na angbian,” meaning “eat and pass to your brother,” which advocates the sharing of opportunities and leadership.

He also attributed the principle’s introduction into national political discourse partly to the late Joseph Sarwuan Tarka.

According to the governor’s spokesman, the principle has continued to shape political representation in Benue, with voters often resisting attempts by individual politicians to retain elective offices for extended periods.

He cited former Senate President David Mark and former Benue State Governor, Senator George Akume, as examples of politicians who secured repeated mandates, but maintained that such cases were relatively uncommon in the state’s political history.

“Our people detest sitting tight in leadership. They prefer to rotate,” the spokesman to the governor said.

He warned that attempts to disregard this preference could provoke protests or protest votes against candidates and political parties perceived to be undermining it.

The CPS noted that political parties in Benue had generally taken zoning and rotational arrangements into account when selecting candidates, largely because of their importance to voters and the need to maintain a sense of fairness in political representation.

Kula argued that extending automatic tickets to all incumbent APC office holders without considering their previous tenure or existing zoning agreements could create avoidable conflicts within the party.

He warned that such a policy could disadvantage aspirants from areas or political blocs that expect to produce candidates under established rotational arrangements, potentially deepening divisions within the APC ahead of the next election cycle.

The governor’s spokesman also questioned the motives of those who might have advocated the alleged arrangement, suggesting that some political actors could be attempting to weaken the APC in Benue and subsequently blame Governor Alia for the consequences that may follow the decision.

He further alleged that others might be seeking to preserve their political influence by preventing a sitting governor from emerging as a dominant figure within the party.

“Whoever gave that advice knew he was planting landmines for Governor Alia and the APC in Benue State. That was pitching the Governor against the people,” he explained.

The controversy comes amid growing political discussions over candidate selection, zoning arrangements and the conditions under which incumbent office holders should seek re-election.

At the heart of the debate is the tension between continuity for serving politicians and rotational arrangements that some political actors and communities consider essential to equitable representation in Benue State.

For the APC, the issue raises questions about how to balance the interests of incumbents seeking fresh mandates with the expectations of party members and voters who favour rotation in the distribution of elective offices.

Tor Vande-Acka is a correspondent with Independent Newspapers.

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