By Paul Aondoakaa 

A high-stakes peace meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State ended in confusion on Sunday, as Governor Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, offered conflicting accounts of resolutions reached.

The meeting, held at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, was convened to address the lingering crisis rocking the party in the state.

Addressing journalists after the closed-door session, Senator Akume said stakeholders agreed on the need to grant automatic tickets to all elected APC officials, from the governor to members of the National and State Assemblies, as part of efforts to foster unity.

He described the move as a step towards inclusiveness and stability within the party, noting that Governor Alia’s apology over the prolonged crisis was a welcome development.

“We want everybody to have a place. We want inclusiveness in this party,” Akume said.

But Governor Alia, in a swift reaction, dismissed the claim, insisting that no such agreement was reached.

He described the “automatic ticket” narrative as a personal opinion or “prayer,” stressing that the national leadership of the party had made it clear that no automatic tickets would be granted to any office holder.

“The resolution is beyond both of us. The President and the national chairman have said there is nothing like automatic ticket,” Alia stated.

The governor explained that his apology was made in the interest of peace and reconciliation, urging party members to focus on unity and collective progress.

The Benue APC has been enmeshed in a protracted leadership crisis, largely driven by a power struggle between Alia and Akume, a former governor of the state. The rift has led to the emergence of parallel party structures and deep divisions across the state.

Sunday’s meeting was widely seen as a crucial step towards resolving the impasse ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Although both leaders reiterated their commitment to peace, the disagreement over key issues has raised fresh doubts about the prospects of genuine reconciliation within the party.

Observers say the conflicting statements may further deepen mistrust among stakeholders, especially as political permutations ahead of the next election cycle begin to take shape.

As of press time, no official communiqué had been released to clarify the resolutions of the meeting, leaving party members and the public to grapple with divergent narratives.