All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship aspirant, Distinguished Senator George Akume is a political colossus whose legacy cannot be forgotten in the annals of Benue State politics.
Born on the 27th of December, 1953, Senator George Akume holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Labour Relations from the University of Ibadan.
Upon the return to civilian rule in Nigeria by the regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Akume a civil servant at the time contested and won the 1999 governorship election in Benue state under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He won re-election in 2003 becoming the first politician to be elected for a second term in Benue’s democratic history.
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Upon the completion of his tenure as governor in 2007, Akume was elected into the Senate to represent the people of Benue North-West in the upper legislative chamber under the platform of the PDP. He was re-elected Senator in 2011 under the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He won another term in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC) but lost to Senator Orke Jev of the PDP in 2019. Akume is the current minister of Specia Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Despite his defeat at the polls in 2019, Akume is a political heavyweight in Benue having been instrumental in the emergence of Gabriel Suswam as governor in 2007 and Samuel Ortom as governor in 2015. Many still revere him as the most accomplished politician in the state only comparable to the late J.S Tarka.
Akume’s Chances of Emerging As APC Chairman
Akume’s dream of becoming national chairman of APC got a boost when he was endorsed by Babagana Zulum, the executive governor of Borno State. Zulum argued that his stance was based on the need to entrench equity and give Christians in the party a sense of belonging.
He said: “As the Executive Governor of Borno State, who believes in the concept of fairness, equity and justice, I plead with His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, all the Executive Governors of our great party, esteemed party chieftains and elders in the party to unanimously endorse Distinguished Senator George Akume, the former Executive Governor of Benue State as the new national chairman of the APC.
“One thing about me is that I don’t pretend. Even Mr. President is aware of this fact about my character traits. To give our very own Christian brothers and sisters in our great party the sense of belonging, Senator George Akume deserves the total support of all party chieftains who believe in the unity of our great party.
“As the only Christian in the race for the chairmanship of the APC, all the contestants have asked for my support. But I choose to stick with His Excellency, Distinguished Senator George Akume and I have personally identified with him for the whole world to know that the entire good people of Borno State are solidly behind Distinguished Senator George Akume.
“APC is never a political party for the Muslims alone. APC is a political party for both Christians and Muslims. Therefore, all well-meaning members of the APC should rally round Distinguished Senator George Akume as the party’s next national chairman, In-sha Allah.”
Zulum’s endorsement will serve as a morale booster to Akume’s candidature because the Borno governor is seen as a very influential member of the party within the presidency and the North-East region. Political watchers believe that Zulum will influence delegates from his region and some APC governors to vote massively for Akume. The decision of the party to zone the ticket to the North-Central is also seen as a major boost to Akume’s candidature.
Akume’s major obstacle is the rumoured endorsement of Senator Abdullahi Adamu by President Muhammadu Buhari for the top job. The president’s decision if true, will put Akume at a huge disadvantage because of Buhari’s influence within the party. It is also believed that most progressives governors are not open to an Akume chairmanship.
