From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in
Benue State has, again, skyrocketed when the Police in the state sealed off the State party secretariat in Makurdi and stopped the Austin Agada-led Executives from holding its scheduled political meeting slated for Friday March 1 and 3, 2024.
The meeting was called by the Executives of the APC with selected stakeholders and the newly appointed Federal Housing Authority, FHA, Executive Director Housing, Finance and Accounts, Dr. Matthias Byuan, in Makurdi.
The State Police Command in a letter signed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Samuel Gimba for the Commissioner of Police, addressed to Mr. Agada, advised that the meetings be called off.
The Command referred to an earlier letter it received from Governor Hyacinth Alia banning all forms of political meetings and gatherings in the state.
The Governor had, in the letter dated February 27, 2024, and signed by his Chief of Staff, Paul Biam, banned all forms of political meetings and gathering in the state owing to the volatile security situation in the state.
The letter read: “I write to inform you that His Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alla has banned all political gatherings in any form, be it inter or intra party or groups in Benue State till further notice.
“This has become necessary following Intelligence on the volatility of the security atmosphere in the state.
“It is certainly not news to you how the security atmosphere in the state has charged following the unprecedented influx of armed herdsmen in the state. You are by this notification invited to enforce this directive.”
While acting on the request by Governor Alia, the Police in a correspondence to Mr. Agada, advised him to suspend the meetings.
In his letter, the Police wrote “I refer to your letter dated February 7, 2024, notifying my office of your intention to hold the State Executive Committee, SEC, meeting of the APC as well as stakeholders meeting of the party on March 1 and 3, 2024 respectively.
“I wish to however request you to suspend the said meetings and all other forms of political meetings till further notice in view of the directive of the Executive Governor of Benue State suspending the holding of all forms of political meetings and gatherings in the State due to the volatility of the security atmosphere in the state.”
Our correspondent reports that as early as 6am on Friday, the Police sealed off the State Secretariat of the APC along J S Tarka Road in Makurdi with heavily armed Police personnel taking charge of the roads leading to the Secretariat.