A serious internal crisis has rocked the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Benue State after its primary election descended into chaos and bloodshed. The situation escalated rapidly, with protests and accusations of manipulation becoming widespread.
In Benue South, angry youths stormed the office of Samson Okwu, accusing him of colluding with Tiv political stakeholders to block the Idoma ethnic group from securing the party’s governorship ticket for the 2027 elections. The demonstrators, bearing placards and singing solidarity songs, warned against any attempt to sideline Idoma interests, asserting that Benue South deserves a fair shot at producing the ADC candidate.
Meanwhile, the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, has maintained a conspicuous silence amid the turmoil, further aggravating tensions and suspicions among ADC supporters in the state.
The crisis took a darker turn in Okpokwu Local Government Area, where the local ADC chairman was reportedly kidnapped by unidentified individuals. In response, heavily armed police officers stormed the party secretariat in Okpoga to restore order, as fear gripped both party members and residents.
Adding to the discord, Ejembi Adaje has demanded the outright cancellation of the party’s primary in Enone, citing widespread irregularities and alleging that the process did not reflect the will of genuine members.