Rainbow Coalition: Benue APC, Chieftains Seek Sanction Against Ex-Chair

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Benue State chapter and some prominent chieftains of the party have accused former state chairman, Austine Agada, of engaging in anti-party activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, calling for disciplinary action that may lead to his suspension.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP on Sunday, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Benedict Yawe, recalled that Agada recently stated on national television that he would not campaign for the re-election of APC Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.

The party alleged that the former state chairman recently campaigned and mobilised support for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially in Benue South Senatorial District, popularly known as Zone C.

Yawe said, “Agada is really doing anti-party. Going publicly to criticise the governor of your party, the APC. Two, saying that he will not campaign for the governor. If Agada says he is not campaigning for the governor, who is he campaigning for?”

Yawe maintained, “So that shows clearly that Agada is doing anti-party activities. Recently, Agada played a very vital role in the PDP, the last PDP outing, the PDP senatorial candidate in Benue Zone C. He was with some boys, his group he called APC members that are supporting PDP.”

He added, “Personally, I would have said I would have suspended Agada, but we are waiting for things to be settled. We will set up a committee that will sit and look into it. If he is guilty of anti-party activities they will suspend him because he is playing a vital role in another party against his party.”
Efforts to get Agada to comment were not successful.

Meanwhile, some prominent chieftains of the APC under the platform of APC Solidarity Group have formally petitioned the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party through the office of the National Chairman, seeking sanctions against the former Benue State chairman over alleged anti-party activities and involvement in a Rainbow Coalition.

The petition, signed by the group’s National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Sa’idu Muhammad, and dated 2nd October, 2026, is titled “Petition against anti-party activities, public opposition to the APC governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates in Benue South Senatorial District, Zone C of Benue State: A conduct prejudicial to the interest of the APC at large.”

The group accused Agada — acting as leader of a faction loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume — of cross-party endorsement of Senator Abba Moro of the PDP for the 2027 senatorial seat, where he reportedly printed banners of APC presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Senator Abba Moro of the PDP.

“On 28th September, 2026, Agada also granted an interview on TVC Politics Tonight, where he stated very clearly that he has no reason to campaign for the APC gubernatorial candidate in Benue as such, he would not campaign for the re-election of the APC candidate for Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, in the 2027 governorship election,” the petition stated.

The group said Agada’s position is contrary to the position of governors elected on the platform of the APC as communicated through the Progressives Governors’ Forum and endorsed by the 36 state chapters and the FCT.

“We are further concerned about Agada’s reported activities within a group known as the Strategic Alliance for Tinubu 2027 (the Rainbow Coalition in Benue) which is in bed with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Labour Party (LP), the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), particularly where such activities are being conducted in a manner that opposes or undermines the APC’s officially recognized political structure and its governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates in Benue State,” the petition added.

The group said while supporting President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election is consistent with APC’s national interest, it should not be used as a basis for campaigning against other candidates of the APC where the party has established candidates.

The petitioners urged the NWC to interrogate Article 21 of the APC Constitution, constitute an investigative committee, invite Agada to appear, and apply appropriate sanctions if found guilty to serve as a deterrent.

“We consider this matter particularly serious because Austin Agada is not an ordinary member of the APC without prerequisite knowledge of the party’s constitution. As a former Chairman of the APC in Benue State, he understands the importance of party supremacy, discipline, loyalty and respect for constituted party organs,” the group stated.

“The APC is bigger than any individual, group or political interest. Its strength depends upon discipline, loyalty, internal democracy, party supremacy and respect for the decisions of its recognized organs,” it added.